|
Post by Sean without an H on Dec 26, 2005 21:55:47 GMT -5
Wow... so yeah, it's day after Christmas (read: at least 12 CDs from family/friends) and I STILL went out to buy CDs today! Like the new Derek Webb ... and the new Deleriou5? (since it was out already [!]) ... and some Christmas presents for other people.
Anywho, I also got some iTunes gift cards, so, in the Andrew Osenga blog-a-thon tradition ... I need some suggestions.
Here's a list of albums sitting in my shopping cart (aka on the list to listen to & consider buying), culled from friends & other artist-types' various tastes & preferences ...
Living with Ghosts -- Patty Griffin Long Gone before Daylight -- The Cardigans White Ladder -- David Gray Lost & Found -- Griffin House Rabbit Songs -- Hem (thanks Greg! I like these clips so much better) A Ghost is Born (Tour Edition) -- Wilco Plans -- Death Cab for Cutie
I'm also open to any other suggestions... like, if there was ONE album you could buy, what would you recommend? Or songs... I dunno, this is starting to look incredibly self-centered, but I just wanted some opinions.
All righty... back to hanging out w/ my girlfriend as she rolls her eyes & calls me a dork for my newfound love of this small message board community. Merry Christmas to all ( a day late), and chill to good music!
Sean (really likes his girlfriend... special events coming soon :wink: )
|
|
|
Post by Sean without an H on Dec 27, 2005 1:59:51 GMT -5
woohoo... so yeah, I'm SO dumb, just RE-read the "greg recommends" thread (yeah i'm that bad) . So... either disregard this thread, or feel free to just pick up on latest (esp. post-Christmas) recommendations. Thanks =)
PS Greg, you mentioned Drunkard's Prayer was not your fave OtR album... what's at the top of your list from their stuff?
sch
|
|
|
Post by Greg adkins on Dec 27, 2005 15:55:18 GMT -5
Sean,
Tell your girlfriend she's just jealous cause we're all so cool. And by cool, I mean gigantic dorks.
Here are my thoughts on your list:
Living with Ghosts -- Patty Griffin - This is one of my favorite CDs by anyone ever... it's just really, really great. Her voice, her songs, her guitar, and that's it.
Long Gone before Daylight -- The Cardigans - Haven't heard it. Andy Osenga goes on and on about these guys and I keep meaning to check them out.
White Ladder -- David Gray - I really liked the two radio hits (Babylon / Please Forgive Me) but those were my favorite two songs on the album...
Lost & Found -- Griffin House - Heard good things... haven't heard it though.
Rabbit Songs -- Hem (thanks Greg! I like these clips so much better) - Well, I love this.
A Ghost is Born (Tour Edition) -- Wilco - Love Wilco... just got "Kicking Television"... it's great. If you're only getting one Wilco disc... might consider the live one. I thought Ghost is Born was a bit of a letdown after YHF, but hey, what wouldn't be.
Plans -- Death Cab for Cutie - Haven't heard it... don't really enjoy these guys all that much.
Also, my favorite Over the Rhine disc is Good Dog Bad Dog, and next is "Ohio". CAn't go wrong with either of those two... both amazing.
Hey, what do you think of the new Derek Webb disc?
- Greg
|
|
|
Post by darthminister on Jan 3, 2006 12:11:09 GMT -5
I only got two CD's for Christmas, but neither have left my car CD changer since I got them.
- U2 - How to defuse and atomic bomb : I know it's been out awhile, but it was my first taste of any U2 in a long time and I love it. It's easily there most overtly "Christianesque" album. Bono would probably take offense to that, but what doesn't he take offense to. Solid lyrics with mostly a bluesy vibe to the album.
- Jimmy Eat World: Futures - For anyone that loves catchy guitar driven, edgy put the pedal down kind of music, you'll love this album. There's one or two slower, piano led ballads of sort mixed in but it's mostly adrenaline fueled guitars leading the post rehab / latest breakup lyrics.
One last thing... when I opened my Jimmy Eat World album, a comment was made by the presenter of the gift regarding the band's stupid name. Yes, it's a stupid name and I'd love to know why it is what it is... same goes for "Death Cab for Cutie". But didn't our parents generation bring us such jewel's as "Strawberry Alarm Clock", and the WHO? I digress...
|
|
|
Post by kagomeshuko on Jan 3, 2006 23:35:16 GMT -5
I got two CDs for Christmas, didn't even remember wanting them. . .LOL. . .
They are by a group called Il Divo - it's more of a . . .hmmm. . .trained. . operetic? um, formal, singing group. . .
BUT they are really good.
Stein Auf! Bridget
|
|
|
Post by Greg adkins on Jan 4, 2006 0:19:57 GMT -5
Devo? Didn't they sing Whip It? I love those guys.
Craig... the U2 CD is awesome... I really love "yahweh" and heck, the whole thing is just solid. As for Jimmy Eat World... all I have ever heard by them was that radio single they had "The Middle" and I hated that with deep passion. Should I give them another chance or is that representative of their sound?
- Greg
|
|
jamie
Gets three weeks paid vacation!
Posts: 116
|
Post by jamie on Jan 5, 2006 10:41:10 GMT -5
Not a big fan of "The Middle" but I loved "Sweetness", the other single from Jimmy Eat World...
|
|
|
Post by darthminister on Jan 5, 2006 11:10:27 GMT -5
Greg, I never heard the rest of J.E.W.s first album with "The Middle" on it so I don't know what it's like. I think the most recent radio song is "Pain" (take my pain away...) I don't listen to the radio much though. I probably would if they played more of JEW and less of Green Day but that's another issue. As I said, most of the songs are pretty heavily distorted and guitar driven while "drugs or me" is led with a soft piano and a few others are mellow. I actually read a good critique of "Futures" in one of the latest "Relevant" mags which is why I got the CD.
I like to look through the eyes of people still living their first life so to speak to remind myself that I was there once, struggling to find the answers to guilt, shame, temptations, etc. And then you get surprised when they say something that would preach. For example... in the song "Nothing Wrong" the chorus says, "we've done nothing wrong, but we've done nothing, we can't look away, but we're just looking, it's second nature to say, we've done nothing wrong." I wish I'd had that for my last sermon actually.
All things considered... if you didn't like Middle... I'd steer clear of it or find it at walmart or B&N where you can listen to a sampling.
As far as U2 goes... Yahweh, Miracle Drug, Vertigo, and All Because of You are great songs. The Lyrics speak for themselves. It's a welcomed dose of U2 after fasting from U2 for about 5 yrs or so. Peace.
|
|
jamie
Gets three weeks paid vacation!
Posts: 116
|
Post by jamie on Jan 6, 2006 9:35:53 GMT -5
I've been enjoying the Weezer singles I've heard off of their new album, although "Beverly Hills" is getting a bit overplayed, as most radio songs are...
|
|
|
Post by kagomeshuko on Jan 9, 2006 1:37:36 GMT -5
Devo? Didn't they sing Whip It? I love those guys.
Haha, okay Mr. Dork Numero Uno (and out to prove it to the world?)
I do remember that song and that group, though. . .
I've not listened to the IL DIVO CD that's not the Christmas one. . .
I checked out some CDs from the library - of a group called The Jayhawks - I'm liking their stuff.
Stein Auf! Bridget
|
|
|
Post by Greg adkins on Jan 9, 2006 2:59:25 GMT -5
the jayhawks are awesome. their album "tomorrow the green grass" is a classic and their most recent disc "rainy day music" is fantastic also.
|
|
|
Post by darthminister on Jan 9, 2006 9:57:50 GMT -5
Yo... Greg asked a few posts back and I didn't even notice it, but has anybody heard the new Derrick Webb album? Regardless, it will likely be in my CD player this afternoon because I can't imagine it being that bad.
|
|
|
Post by kagomeshuko on Jan 10, 2006 1:15:34 GMT -5
the jayhawks are awesome. their album "tomorrow the green grass" is a classic and their most recent disc "rainy day music" is fantastic also.
Yes, they had the album "Tomorrow is the Green Grass." The other two they had were "Hollywood Town Hall" and "Smile."
I've been into the song "smile" from "smile." I've liked all of the songs, though.
I'll be going back to the library soon enough to check out more music if they have any of the artists I'd like to hear.
Stein Auf! Bridget
|
|
|
Post by darthminister on Jan 10, 2006 9:45:02 GMT -5
RE: Derrick Webb... got Mockingbird yesterday and it's solid. Musically it sounds much the same as ISTUD which is a bit of a letdown for me b/c I much preferred the bluegrass tones of his first album, but it's solid nonetheless. It's got a lot of political rants mixed in with his usual stories of walking with Christ.
I also grabbed Delirious: Mission Bell & Shane & Shane's: Upstairs acoustic album but have not listened to either of them yet.
|
|
|
Post by Sean without an H on Jan 13, 2006 16:24:04 GMT -5
Okay, sorry for my not-so-brief absence, but after several listens (and school starting back) I think I can finally weigh in on DW's new album.
First off... it's Derek. Casting my lot with Darthminister, it can't be that bad. It does have a good bit of political talk on it ... I guess (unlike the folks at the CC.net board, where I lurk frequently), the presence of 'heavy-handed' political ranting doesn't really bother me too much. I guess I take what I need to hear from it (i.e. "my enemies are men like me" --> :ahem: my enemies really are people too ) and leave the rest.
Musically, I really enjoy the style... I probably wouldn't have noticed the doulbed vocal tracks if someone hadn't said anything ... for all the 'french horns' in the credits it's not as scary as it sounds, and it has some really interesting percussion/drum stuff going for it. Many of the songs feel like they're in the same key (and if not contain very similar tones), but the arrangements & lyrics make up for it, least I think so.
Lyrically the album has some standouts, esp. "Zeroes and Ones" which (I think?) deals w/ art and commercialization ... something that as a comm major and lover of indie music is near and dear to my heart. "A New Law" is still a really provocative song, if nothing else in its implications to watch who and where my allegiance goes.
Overall, Mockingbird is a very solid album, something I think will make its way into my CD player on occasion for several years. It's not an album I would use to introduce most of my friends to DW ... I'd leave that up to She Must and Shall go Free or the House Show. Then again, I also know some folks who would connect w/ the lyrics etc. b/c of the musical style (I got a friend of mine interested b/c of the Wilco-esque qualities of I See Things Upside Down). Anywho, when DW wears out, there's always Andy Peterson... =)
Wow this is a long post. I think I'll stop now.
Catch yall later,
sch
PS. Just a quick caveat: with songs like "New Law", "Ballad in Plain Red" and "Wedding Dress", does the American Christian church really have such a problem with wealth and prosperity gospel? I guess I'm just really blessed to live in an area where, for the most part, the churches really are about sharing Jesus' love and seeing people transformed by the gospel of Christ, incl. my home church. I guess sometimes I have a hard time imagining that it's as big an issue as DW etc. make it out to be.... maybe it's just b/c I don't live in Nashville. O=)
|
|