1 album, 1+ listen/day for one week. Recommend something.

[sebby]

Literally anything that isn't industrial, modern country, screamo, house or death metal. ≤ 60 mins. Doesn't matter if I've heard it before, if it's an obscure gem or typical mainstream trash.

Daily impressions may be provided.

Why I am doing this...as yet unclear.

Jan 14-19	Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
Jan 20-26	Anathema - Weather Systems
Jan 27 - Feb 2	Tindersticks - Tindersticks
Feb 3-9	Judy Collins - Wildflowers
Feb 10-16	REM - Automatic for the People
Feb 17-23	Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Feb 24-Mar 1	Jorge Ben - África Brasil
Mar 2-Mar 8	Susumu Hirasawa - Kyuusai no Gihou
Mar 9-15	Stage Dive - And Then There's A Rose
Mar 16-22	Vangelis - Voices
Mar 23-29	Comus - First Utterance
Mar 30-Apr 5	Xanopticon - Liminal Space
Apr 6-12	Funkadelic - Hardcore Jollies
Apr 13-19	Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley
Apr 20-26	MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Apr 27-May 3	Desaparecidos - Read Music/Speak Spanish
May 4-10	Loma - Loma

[mightysparks]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs (1970)

[joachimt]

Anathema - Weather Systems

[sebby]

Ok, I'll start with the Syd. Listened to it many years ago and only remember that I enjoyed it more than anything PF related he was involved in.

Never heard of anathema. Won't even look them (him? her?) up before pressing play on spotify when I get to it Tuesday.

[cinephage]

Tindersticks - Tindersticks

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Wildflowers (Judy Collins, 1967)

[Armoreska]

I can't pick one but I'll try
https://www.discogs.com/lists/My-top-fa ... ums/130268

new age
My #3, Vangelis - Voices?

SpoilerShow

but I've already posted my favorite music from there in the favorite songs list.
k, a few more

Since the rest of the top 25 is pretty well trodden, I'll pick a few more from the latest favorite finds 1 per genre:

punk rock
Exit-Stance ‎– While Backs Are Turned...

SpoilerShow

hip-hop
Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having

SpoilerShow

pop/electronic (actual album)
M People - Elegant Slumming

SpoilerShow

rock (no screaming)
Earthless - Sonic Prayer

SpoilerShow

folk
Graham Nash ‎– Songs For Beginners

SpoilerShow

prog
Nektar ‎– Remember The Future

SpoilerShow

soul/funk
Rose Royce ‎– In Full Bloom

SpoilerShow

ambient
Suspended Memories - Forgotten Gods

SpoilerShow

[Nathan Treadway]

REM Automatic for the People

[jvv]

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

[sebby]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs

Day 1 - Listen 1

So I was listening via bluetooth speaker while showering. If there is a better setting for critical analysis, I have yet to find it. guitar seems way too forward in the mix, almost punching down the vocals.

Day 2 - Listen 2

Interesting how some brits sing with a heavy accent and others sound like they could be from the midwestern US when you put a mic in front of them. Hmmm. What are these pale m!@#$%*&*%^#s up to.

Songs have a samey-same quality (technical jargon) that I can't quite shake through two listens. Had the same issue recently with norman fucking rockwell. one of the innumerable ways mr barrett and lana del rey are, essentially, indistinguishable.

This time i listened through my iphone with a nice pair of mid-fi headphones. not in shower. or even in bathroom. guitar less aggressive about stating it's presence.

[blocho]

Jorge Ben - Africa Brasil

[Pretentious Hipster]

Isn't music all about breaking your comfort zone? Even if you hate industrial I could see you liking some of Coil's work.

My recommendation is Susumu Hirasawa's Kyuusai no Gihou

[kingink]

Tindersticks - Tindersticks

Oh, cinephage! One of my all time favorite albums!

[Pretentious Hipster]

Tindersticks is indeed a great band.

[Cinepolis]

Stage Dive - And Then There's A Rose

Very unknown rock band. This also seems to be the only available album. I first heard their music through "Night of the Clown", a 90s indie slasher that used their song "Silent Tears" in the trailer.

[sebby]

Isn't music all about breaking your comfort zone? Even if you hate industrial I could see you liking some of Coil's work.

My recommendation is Susumu Hirasawa's Kyuusai no Gihou

Yes and no. Part of the appeal of doing this for me is in fact hearing shit I never would have come across. But also I have tried to listen to almost everything over the years; some stuff I have come to find too displeasing to explore further. There's already enough music in genres and from artists I like that I haven't yet heard for me to continue trying to find industrial/noise/emo/house/etc that i find appealing. it's like not liking gin but continuing to drink different brands of gin hoping one will make you feel the way gin-lovers feel when they drink it.

[Pretentious Hipster]

Isn't music all about breaking your comfort zone? Even if you hate industrial I could see you liking some of Coil's work.

My recommendation is Susumu Hirasawa's Kyuusai no Gihou

Yes and no. Part of the appeal of doing this for me is in fact hearing shit I never would have come across. But also I have tried to listen to almost everything over the years; some stuff I have come to find too displeasing to explore further. There's already enough music in genres and from artists I like that I haven't yet heard for me to continue trying to find industrial/noise/emo/house/etc that i find appealing. it's like not liking gin but continuing to drink different brands of gin hoping one will make you feel the way gin-lovers feel when they drink it.

Would it be ok if you keep going with this if I give recommendations for some genres that I didn't find appealing at first, or can see you finding exceptions for the genre? I hated house until I listened to one various artist compilation of early 90s italian house music. For industrial I can think of one of Low's albums.

EDIT: And of course Coil's Ape of Naples for industrial too.

[sebby]

Isn't music all about breaking your comfort zone? Even if you hate industrial I could see you liking some of Coil's work.

My recommendation is Susumu Hirasawa's Kyuusai no Gihou

Yes and no. Part of the appeal of doing this for me is in fact hearing shit I never would have come across. But also I have tried to listen to almost everything over the years; some stuff I have come to find too displeasing to explore further. There's already enough music in genres and from artists I like that I haven't yet heard for me to continue trying to find industrial/noise/emo/house/etc that i find appealing. it's like not liking gin but continuing to drink different brands of gin hoping one will make you feel the way gin-lovers feel when they drink it.

Would it be ok if you keep going with this if I give recommendations for some genres that I didn't find appealing at first, or can see you finding exceptions for the genre? I hated house until I listened to one various artist compilation of early 90s italian house music. For industrial I can think of one of Low's albums.

EDIT: And of course Coil's Ape of Naples for industrial too.

Ok, new rule for excluded genres: EPs or very short albums (under 25 mins) are acceptable. I don't mind reaching out of my comfort zone, but I also don't want this to turn into something that feels too much like work, either.

I am somewhat familiar with Low. I have heard The Great Destroyer, though it didn't strike me as what I think of when I think industrial music. So if there's industrial out there that isn't noisy or abrasive, I might not hate it.

[sebby]

I can't pick one but I'll try
https://www.discogs.com/lists/My-top-fa ... ums/130268

new age
My #3, Vangelis - Voices?

SpoilerShow

but I've already posted my favorite music from there in the favorite songs list.
k, a few more

electronic
On The Floor At The Boutique (DJ Set not a standard album of new music)

SpoilerShow

Since the rest of the top 25 is pretty well trodden, I'll pick a few more from the latest favorite finds 1 per genre:

punk rock
Exit-Stance ‎– While Backs Are Turned...

SpoilerShow

hip-hop
Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having

SpoilerShow

pop/electronic (actual album)
M People - Elegant Slumming

SpoilerShow

rock (no screaming)
Earthless - Sonic Prayer

SpoilerShow

folk
Graham Nash ‎– Songs For Beginners

SpoilerShow

prog
Nektar ‎– Remember The Future

SpoilerShow

soul/funk
Rose Royce ‎– In Full Bloom

SpoilerShow

ambient
Suspended Memories - Forgotten Gods

SpoilerShow

Could you pick one from this group. Or shall i pick one at random?

[Pretentious Hipster]

Yes and no. Part of the appeal of doing this for me is in fact hearing shit I never would have come across. But also I have tried to listen to almost everything over the years; some stuff I have come to find too displeasing to explore further. There's already enough music in genres and from artists I like that I haven't yet heard for me to continue trying to find industrial/noise/emo/house/etc that i find appealing. it's like not liking gin but continuing to drink different brands of gin hoping one will make you feel the way gin-lovers feel when they drink it.

Would it be ok if you keep going with this if I give recommendations for some genres that I didn't find appealing at first, or can see you finding exceptions for the genre? I hated house until I listened to one various artist compilation of early 90s italian house music. For industrial I can think of one of Low's albums.

EDIT: And of course Coil's Ape of Naples for industrial too.

Ok, new rule for excluded genres: EPs or very short albums (under 25 mins) are acceptable. I don't mind reaching out of my comfort zone, but I also don't want this to turn into something that feels too much like work, either.

I am somewhat familiar with Low. I have heard The Great Destroyer, though it didn't strike me as what I think of when I think industrial music. So if there's industrial out there that isn't noisy or abrasive, I might not hate it.

They usually do indie rock and dream pop. Their most recent album was a change. Coil's Ape of Naples is not noisy, but some of their music is. I mean hell one of them is the inventor of the genre.

Maybe in the future I can give an album with a song that's representative of it and if you hate the song you can just go to the next rec?

[sebby]

Would it be ok if you keep going with this if I give recommendations for some genres that I didn't find appealing at first, or can see you finding exceptions for the genre? I hated house until I listened to one various artist compilation of early 90s italian house music. For industrial I can think of one of Low's albums.

EDIT: And of course Coil's Ape of Naples for industrial too.

Ok, new rule for excluded genres: EPs or very short albums (under 25 mins) are acceptable. I don't mind reaching out of my comfort zone, but I also don't want this to turn into something that feels too much like work, either.

I am somewhat familiar with Low. I have heard The Great Destroyer, though it didn't strike me as what I think of when I think industrial music. So if there's industrial out there that isn't noisy or abrasive, I might not hate it.

Maybe in the future I can give an album with a song that's representative of it and if you hate the song you can just go to the next rec?

Yeah, that works.

[sebby]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs

Day 2 - Listen 3

Things beginning to come into focus. Initial thoughts of this being a lo-fi bedroom sort of recording have fallen apart. Production and instrumentation often messy with half ideas and really interesting as a result.

[cinephage]

Tindersticks - Tindersticks

Oh, cinephage! One of my all time favorite albums!

I really enjoy this band. Even their minor albums have a few gems, but this album comes back every once in a while. I just love it too.
They're playing in Paris on Jan 31st... I'm looking forward to that.

[kingink]

Tindersticks - Tindersticks

Oh, cinephage! One of my all time favorite albums!

I really enjoy this band. Even their minor albums have a few gems, but this album comes back every once in a while. I just love it too.
They're playing in Paris on Jan 31st... I'm looking forward to that.

They come to Greece very often since they have a very strong fanbase here. I have seen them 5 or 6 times but it's been quite some time simce the last one so I am thinking it's time to see them again.
I am waiting for your review sebby but I guess you have listened to Tindersticks before.

[Armoreska]

Could you pick one from this group. Or shall i pick one at random?

Either from the top or any, don't ask me

[sebby]

Could you pick one from this group. Or shall i pick one at random?

Either from the top or any, don't ask me

Ok I'll go with your top mention.

[joachimt]

I've watchlisted...... eh...... listenlisted (?) that Tindersticks album. I know a few of their songs, but never listen to an entire album. To be clear, we're talking about their debut from 1993, right? That one is called "The First Tindersticks Album" according to Discogs, while "Tindersticks" is from 1995.

[kingink]

I've watchlisted...... eh...... listenlisted (?) that Tindersticks album. I know a few of their songs, but never listen to an entire album. To be clear, we're talking about their debut from 1993, right? That one is called "The First Tindersticks Album" according to Discogs, while "Tindersticks" is from 1995.

Both of them are equally great but yeah, this is the 1993 album.

[nimimerkillinen]

Comus - First Utterance

[Onderhond]

Xanopticon - Liminal Space. Only 53 minutes, go for it.

[Armoreska]

Comus - First Utterance

haha epic pick. Song to Comus is a megahit

[sebby]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs

Day 3 - Listen 4

Nothing really new to report. I lean toward liking many songs and don't really dislike any, but there's nothing as great as "Baby Lemonade" on here. "Feel" and "Octopus" are probably the closest to favorites.

[mightysparks]

Love You is my favourite.

[sebby]

yeah that's a good one. also like dark globe a lot. but i am growing quite tired of terrapin.

[sebby]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs

Day 4 - Listen 5

Happily enough, I've not grown tired of the required daily listen to this album. Songs are starting to pull apart from each other and now becoming their own entities. Hoping this weekend bears more fruit. Right now I'd say this is a solid 3/3+.

[peeptoad]

Funkadelic- Hardcore Jollies

or Kyuss- Sky Valley if the former doesn't tickle your fancy.

[sebby]

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs

Days 5 and 6 - Listens 6 and 7, Final Thoughts

Syd gets shortchanged a day so that I can have an easy Mon-Sun schedule moving forward. Sorry, old chum.

In the end this album is about what I remember it being: good, but not quite as genius or revolutionary as the hype that initially drew me to it as an aspiring teenage music snob. Without "Terrapin" I'd probably rate it more highly and call it one of the better albums of its year. Kind of hard to rebound from a long opening track that sits in my mind as the worst thing on the whole record.

The goodliest tunes:

[sebby]

Funkadelic- Hardcore Jollies

or Kyuss- Sky Valley if the former doesn't tickle your fancy.

Two for the price of one! Since I'm a triskaidekaphobe, I'll actually be adding both of these to my sched.

[Armoreska]

Funkadelic- Hardcore Jollies

or Kyuss- Sky Valley if the former doesn't tickle your fancy.

Wait, you're listening to the same album everyday? That's weird.

[peeptoad]

Funkadelic- Hardcore Jollies

or Kyuss- Sky Valley if the former doesn't tickle your fancy.

Two for the price of one! Since I'm a triskaidekaphobe, I'll actually be adding both of these to my sched.

rock & roll, sebby (literally)

Funkadelic- Hardcore Jollies

or Kyuss- Sky Valley if the former doesn't tickle your fancy.