The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....

Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.

The fact that they are headlining Download, has caused alot of 'debate' in the world of attendees at that festival....between the 'they are not rock/metal' 'not good enough' 'no way I'm going now' FOC types, and the younger fans of theirs, who are so 'religious cult' like, that they make Dipper fans sound normal.
I listened to this, intrigued as to how they sounded, would I like it? Being a fan of rock/metal, I thought I would (I was wrong) so i wondered if I was missing something.....and thought I would see what a group of 'neutral' reviewers, ALL OF YOU, thought. I am/was aware that certain posters would not like it, but then that is no different to anything I have nominated ;) ...and I had to listen to 'The Streets' which isn't even remotely music!!
Sorry, but what 'attachment' I have to an album, or anyone else has to their nominations is totally irrelevant to what any of us think of them.....it's simply a chance to listen to music that we haven't heard (mainly) and maybe find something new, that we do??......it's not a competition after all, and having to listen to 'Definitely Maybe' which even my 80yr old parents, who don't really listen to music, have heard, imo is a much bigger waste of time! My first hope every week, is that I've never heard of the band .
Sorry, some have shown their 'wetwipe' side ;)
I will stick with Dark side of the Moon, Thriller, and the best of ABBA in future.
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I'm now disappointed you aren't one of the masked numbers.
 
southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....

Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.

The fact that they are headlining Download, has caused alot of 'debate' in the world of attendees at that festival....between the 'they are not rock/metal' 'not good enough' 'no way I'm going now' FOC types, and the younger fans of theirs, who are so 'religious cult' like, that they make Dipper fans sound normal.
I listened to this, intrigued as to how they sounded, would I like it? Being a fan of rock/metal, I thought I would (I was wrong) so i wondered if I was missing something.....and thought I would see what a group of 'neutral' reviewers, ALL OF YOU, thought. I am/was aware that certain posters would not like it, but then that is no different to anything I have nominated ;) ...and I had to listen to 'The Streets' which isn't even remotely music!!
Sorry, but what 'attachment' I have to an album, or anyone else has to their nominations is totally irrelevant to what any of us think of them.....it's simply a chance to listen to music that we haven't heard (mainly) and maybe find something new, that we do??......it's not a competition after all, and having to listen to 'Definitely Maybe' which even my 80yr old parents, who don't really listen to music, have heard, imo is a much bigger waste of time! My first hope every week, is that I've never heard of the band .
Sorry, some have shown their 'wetwipe' side ;)
I will stick with Dark side of the Moon, Thriller, and the best of ABBA in future.
Click to expand...
Great post and I think you've nailed the rationale perfectly.
I really like the chaos this album has brought to the discussion :)
Great pick regardless of how much one does or doesn't like it.
 
southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....
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I don't have an issue at that at all, but in retrospect, I wish you had gone first before me. ;-)

southamptonblue said:
Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.
Click to expand...
southamptonblue said:
The fact that they are headlining Download, has caused alot of 'debate' in the world of attendees at that festival....between the 'they are not rock/metal' 'not good enough' 'no way I'm going now' FOC types, and the younger fans of theirs, who are so 'religious cult' like, that they make Dipper fans sound normal.
I listened to this, intrigued as to how they sounded, would I like it? Being a fan of rock/metal, I thought I would (I was wrong) so i wondered if I was missing something.....and thought I would see what a group of 'neutral' reviewers, ALL OF YOU, thought. I am/was aware that certain posters would not like it, but then that is no different to anything I have nominated ;) ...and I had to listen to 'The Streets' which isn't even remotely music!!
Click to expand...
I will disagree with you on that last point in being one of the ones who actually half-enjoyed The Streets (mostly for the comedy thoughout), but I get the other points in getting "other opinions". All good.

southamptonblue said:
Sorry, but what 'attachment' I have to an album, or anyone else has to their nominations is totally irrelevant to what any of us think of them.....it's simply a chance to listen to music that we haven't heard (mainly) and maybe find something new, that we do??......it's not a competition after all, and having to listen to 'Definitely Maybe' which even my 80yr old parents, who don't really listen to music, have heard, imo is a much bigger waste of time! My first hope every week, is that I've never heard of the band .
Sorry, some have shown their 'wetwipe' side ;)
Click to expand...
Here's the kicker, I haven't listened to the album yet, so I have purposefully stayed pretty mum on it other than hearing the first song. I'll be listening now with the context provided.
southamptonblue said:
I will stick with Dark side of the Moon, Thriller, and the best of ABBA in future.
Click to expand...
Please no, and I know you jest, but we'd all rather hear something new over ones we all know or have been (over)exposed to.

Plus, stay clear of the best of's, as Foggy will note, and I mostly concur (though I did hear all of Stop Making Sense for the first time thanks to LGWIO and it was a different take on songs I knew).
 
southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....

Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.
Click to expand...

Boom.
 
southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....

Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.

The fact that they are headlining Download, has caused alot of 'debate' in the world of attendees at that festival....between the 'they are not rock/metal' 'not good enough' 'no way I'm going now' FOC types, and the younger fans of theirs, who are so 'religious cult' like, that they make Dipper fans sound normal.
I listened to this, intrigued as to how they sounded, would I like it? Being a fan of rock/metal, I thought I would (I was wrong) so i wondered if I was missing something.....and thought I would see what a group of 'neutral' reviewers, ALL OF YOU, thought. I am/was aware that certain posters would not like it, but then that is no different to anything I have nominated ;) ...and I had to listen to 'The Streets' which isn't even remotely music!!
Sorry, but what 'attachment' I have to an album, or anyone else has to their nominations is totally irrelevant to what any of us think of them.....it's simply a chance to listen to music that we haven't heard (mainly) and maybe find something new, that we do??......it's not a competition after all, and having to listen to 'Definitely Maybe' which even my 80yr old parents, who don't really listen to music, have heard, imo is a much bigger waste of time! My first hope every week, is that I've never heard of the band .
Sorry, some have shown their 'wetwipe' side ;)
I will stick with Dark side of the Moon, Thriller, and the best of ABBA in future.
Click to expand...
Ha ha ha I love it!

Back to this: everyone nominate whatever they like at any time. No moaning about too old, too new, too genre-specific, etc. before the fact. We can discuss our various biases in our specific reviews.

I for one was glad to hear this, glad to study it, and glad to skewer it. One thing I love about this thread — it’s not only about music, it’s about writing (at least for me) which, if no one has figured it out yet, I love to do.
 
southamptonblue said:
OK....I HAVE listened to this album, but no, I don't particularly like it. It is not a 'wind up' or 'Clarkie' at all, it's a genuine nomination to see what other people think, here's the deal.....

Sleep Token sell out Arena tours, and could easily sell out more Arena dates, this album was voted 'best rock/metal album' of 2024, and they are headlining Download Festival, this summer! They are massively popular, not obscure.

The fact that they are headlining Download, has caused alot of 'debate' in the world of attendees at that festival....between the 'they are not rock/metal' 'not good enough' 'no way I'm going now' FOC types, and the younger fans of theirs, who are so 'religious cult' like, that they make Dipper fans sound normal.
I listened to this, intrigued as to how they sounded, would I like it? Being a fan of rock/metal, I thought I would (I was wrong) so i wondered if I was missing something.....and thought I would see what a group of 'neutral' reviewers, ALL OF YOU, thought. I am/was aware that certain posters would not like it, but then that is no different to anything I have nominated ;) ...and I had to listen to 'The Streets' which isn't even remotely music!!
Sorry, but what 'attachment' I have to an album, or anyone else has to their nominations is totally irrelevant to what any of us think of them.....it's simply a chance to listen to music that we haven't heard (mainly) and maybe find something new, that we do??......it's not a competition after all, and having to listen to 'Definitely Maybe' which even my 80yr old parents, who don't really listen to music, have heard, imo is a much bigger waste of time! My first hope every week, is that I've never heard of the band .
Sorry, some have shown their 'wetwipe' side ;)
I will stick with Dark side of the Moon, Thriller, and the best of ABBA in future.
Click to expand...

In retrospect should have realised it was something along those lines because once I played it, it didn't really chime as something you'd nominate. It seems so far the answer to what do other people think is not too much either. I know you said you don't like it but out of interest what would you score it and/or does it have any redeeming features iyo?

The fans outside/going into the Coop looked a pretty bog standard/normal bunch but I suppose people in cults don't necessarily have a big sign on their heads. I suppose it's not surprising that it's their younger fans that are 'all in' on them.

I still have hope that one day you might see the light about The Streets and thank me ;-)
 
BimboBob said:
And I'm sorry if I had a chemo visit at the hospital. Must try harder!


Bit of an edit...a 10 minute chemo visit...followed up by an afternoon at Leicester Uni preserving some Roman coins.
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Preserved Roman coins… are they a delicacy in Leicestershire? On crackers with a nice cheese?
 
I think this was a great nomination. I've never heard of them and unlikely to do so unless they had been nominated. They were interesting enough to try and figure out if was good or not. Interesting take to nominate something you're not sure of yourself.

i'm likely to be one of its highest scorers and I enjoyed listening and doing a little bit of research and like foggy I enjoy writing and trying to order my thinking. I think Threespires nailed it for me though in that he's not doing enough within the genres he's hitting to make it interesting other than it is a "metal" artist doing it. I wonder if the Faith No More album had come out in the same year if it would be doing similar things.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Link?
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www.youtube.com

Rob on Holiday

Welcome to Rob on Holiday, your ultimate destination for travel inspiration and tips! Are you dreaming of your next trip away? Well, look no further! Join us as we explore some of Europe's best city break destinations, showing you all the hidden gems, and must-see attractions. ✨ Experience...
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mrbelfry said:
Think these guys just released a new song if you're a fan
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A review excitedly mentioned the sax solo which turns out to be subpar Kenny G that absolutely could be AI generated.

It's off their upcoming album....

The band say of Even In Arcadia: “This new chapter follows [2023 album] Take Me Back To Eden and continues the unfolding journey, where Sleep Token further intertwines the boundaries of sound and emotion, dissolving into something otherworldly.”

Probably includes the important cultural event of releasing new masks.

Actually Kenny G is quite an appropriate comparison, no one ever claims (in fairness including him I think) that he's particularly talented or artistically on it. But he's massively successful with an audience that likes the idea of a 'jazzy' sound without actually wanting to listen to jazz. Maybe it's the same?

I know sod all about contemporary metal but with the whole Download thing, will be interesting to see if this is a flash in the pan or maybe this kind of thing is the face of metal for the younger generations?
 
threespires said:
I know sod all about contemporary metal but with the whole Download thing, will be interesting to see if this is a flash in the pan or maybe this kind of thing is the face of metal for the younger generations?
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I discussed this weeks pick with my guitar teacher (pretentious… moi?) who is 27 - so maybe from the younger generation of which you speak. He’s from a metal background, played in a few bands and just embarking on a new venture. He was pretty dismissive of Sleep Token - despite having friendly links with their drummer.
He generally views them as a gimmick that has gathered social media traction and basically a poor man’s Slipknot and not as good as Ghost.
I have to agree with him tbh. I’m a big Slipknot fan, not so much Ghost. I want my metal to grab me by the wotsits and throw me around a bit, with the occasional ballad here and there. Ghost I find a bit wishy washy but they’ve still got some decent heavy riffs and a much better vocalist.
I’m really please that @Southampton Blue outed himself and declared his distaste for his own pick - he shares my displeasure at these guys headlining one of the best rock festivals.
As I mentioned in my initial post, I’ve been listening to ST on and off for a few weeks now. There’s the odd track here and there that is half decent but on the whole it’s a dreadful pile of shite. Might be better live I guess, but I wouldn’t waste decent money trying to find out. Bimbo and Foggy were more eloquent in their derision than I’ll ever be - 3/10
 
GornikDaze said:
I discussed this weeks pick with my guitar teacher (pretentious… moi?) who is 27 - so maybe from the younger generation of which you speak. He’s from a metal background, played in a few bands and just embarking on a new venture. He was pretty dismissive of Sleep Token - despite having friendly links with their drummer.
He generally views them as a gimmick that has gathered social media traction and basically a poor man’s Slipknot and not as good as Ghost.
I have to agree with him tbh. I’m a big Slipknot fan, not so much Ghost. I want my metal to grab me by the wotsits and throw me around a bit, with the occasional ballad here and there. Ghost I find a bit wishy washy but they’ve still got some decent heavy riffs and a much better vocalist.
I’m really please that @Southampton Blue outed himself and declared his distaste for his own pick - he shares my displeasure at these guys headlining one of the best rock festivals.
As I mentioned in my initial post, I’ve been listening to ST on and off for a few weeks now. There’s the odd track here and there that is half decent but on the whole it’s a dreadful pile of shite. Might be better live I guess, but I wouldn’t waste decent money trying to find out. Bimbo and Foggy were more eloquent in their derision than I’ll ever be - 3/10
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Interesting. I mentioned that my eldest though far from a metal head but someone who likes heavy guitar music was utterly scathing about it. The more I read about them/him(?) the more I think the generosity of my score based on the feel good factor for their fans was rather misguided.

Coatigan said he's seen them live so it'll be interesting to see what his review makes of it.
 
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