bluefox4000

Taylor Swift-Tortured Poets Department (10/10)

the score is for the proper album.  the most negative thing i'll see is i generally don't like the bonus tracks much at all.  this is the closet she came to a throw away disc for me.

the proper album........my be my fav album she's done.  While i don't think it's her best.  it IS my fav.  ,mature.  classy. layered.  it's all a home run for me.

The negative reviews i've seen say this album's too same-y.  yet i don't think she was aim-ing for bop-y commercial. these people don't seem to be looking for an album i think.  they want bops they can pick and choose from.  if that's all you want look elsewhere.

True S tier album for me.

Mick

Still hip-hop but i've added some AOR.

cause the weather. is slowly warming up.

Mick

2 hours ago, Rush Didact said:

 

This.  This times a thousand.  It's such a disappointing album, I couldn't believe that they (particularly Neil) suddenly wanted to make a fantasy concept album after spending their entire careers distancing themselves from that stuff.

 

2112 is juvenile, but it gets away with it because the people who wrote it were juveniles, and what it lacks in depth and sophistication it makes up for with passion and fire.

 

There's no excuse for Clockwork Angels.  It's juvenile, but without the passion and fire.  It's just a dull, sophomoric concept buried under some spectacularly awful production.  It sounds like Rush doing a Coheed and Cambria impression (who are themselves doing an impression of Rush circa 1976).

 

The reason I'm still listening to Rush in 2024 is because Neil's lyrics from about 1980 onwards really had something worthwhile to say.  He spent three decades digging into the human condition, and even though he didn't always succeed, he also came up with little bits of truth and stashed them inside gems like Time Stand Still, Subdivisions, Between the Wheels, Natural Science, Mission, Bravado, Marathon, Animate, Earthshine, Middletown Dreams, Vapor Trail, Available Light, Mystic Rhythms, Dreamline, Ghost of a Chance, Secret Touch, Far Cry, Totem, etc.  That's some Grade A, top flight shit right there, and I'll put it up against the best of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, or any other lyricist.

 

And then he somehow comes up with "A goddess with wings on her heels". 

sounds weird to say but i'm glad some anti-CA sentiment is on here now.

but in 2012 This place was such a CA circle jerk.  i had just joined here but i'd been a fan aa long time.  HATEC CA and thought "surly fans hear this for what it is"  only to find i was a minority, lol.

I couldn't get  it couldn't hear the magic.  The Production....after Vapor Trails was and is inexcusable.  The story as you said....for Aa band even in the 90's was ever evolving......sent us back to sci-fi drivel.

The songs just weren't there either.  i've heard.  "Well if the production was better you'd love it"  uh........that's a cop out.  no i wouldn't lol.

"you'll like it in a few years"

it's been 12..........and i have played in on and off since........still feel like this.

so  maybe it's me, lol

Mick

Oddly enough hip-hop  Mainly Kendrick Lamar, Biggie and Eminem.  Early Kanye too.

I don't know how it happened but you know when your brain just cracks a code out f nowhere and goes "OHHHHHHH I SEE!!!!!!!" well after years of being facinated but never quite getting hip-hop.  it happened.  the best artists and albums from this genre is true art.

Kendrick has me floored.  I heard to Pimp a butterfly when it was released cause it was a MASSIVE cross over sucsess.  Like metal youtubers i watched were all raving.  this was the METAL community, lol and when someone talks and raves on something whether your a fan of the genre or not you go well now I HAVE to hear this.

well i did and wow my jaw physically fell open.  this guy was doing things i wish my fav pop acts would.  and it was commercial in places too.  so now i adore him.  think he's a genius. and i really don't throw the word genius around at all but i think he is.

and Em i have a history with.  in 2000 i was 15 and he was huge.  My friend had the Marshall Mathers LP but his Mom wouldn't let him play it cause Em appalled parents.  they HATED him.  my mom was loose with me.  She's like you could play it just don't let me hear it.   So he would sneak it over and we would play it on my player.......and laugh our asses off man.  This shit was dark but just......funny, lol.

So that's my long winded way of saying i love hip/hop now.

Mick

Different for me.

Eminem-Marshall Mathers LP (10/10)

Kendrick Lamar-Damn (10/10)

Notorious B.I.G.-Ready 2 Die (10/10)

I finally cracked the code on hip-hop.  i've been listening to a lot more too.  i'm finding when done right.  I really finally see the art hear.

Also this genre makes albums that are over an hour.  but when they're great albums they fly by.

Oh i have a soft spot for Em.  he was HUGE in my mid teens and crossed over with every music base.  i just remember metalheads loving him, lol

Mick

Joni Mitchell-Hejira (10/10)

Mick

Sabrina Carpenter -Emails I Can't Send (10/10)

Like this just as much as i'm liking Olivia.

Mick

The Weeknd-Dawn FM (10/10)

Another great great album.

Mick

The Weeknd-After Hours (10/10)

Another guy who i think is making really cool pop records he's more on the R N B side but he is just really unique i think.

Mick

19 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

 

Yeah I’m sorry this just doesn’t do much for me. I like the opener pretty well, and like there’s nothing here I’d turn off if it came on the radio (not that I can hear like… *any* of this getting much airtime… where are the hooks?). The songwriting just doesn’t pull me in, and the production is so wrong for this kind of band. You know what a great PJ record *sounds* like? It sound like Vs. Or like Vitalogy. Those records had character without having to try too hard either. I get if they want to chase a new sound, but I ain’t hearing any really new musical ideas to back up that decision either. Everything sounds too compressed, nothing breathes, and nothing surprises me. Again. I don’t hate it, but there’s shockingly little here that I really care about at all.

this record just passed me by in a wall of white noise.  some people like it (way to go Segue, lol)

but i can't get into it......since i loved gigaton this just disappointed me.

But that's my PJ story in general.  like one.....hate one.....and on and on it goes, lol

Mick

1 minute ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

YES!!

 

I have no idea where the negativity towards her originates. This is pop music at its best. Forward thinking, relatable, sing able, impressive, and backed with some actual quite classic ideals (Billie Bossa anyone?) Plus the girl can SING. She might be the best vocalist in the top 40 right now.

her backing vocals with herself too.  a few of those made me back up the song to hear them again.

i think she gets flack because of her image from that first album.  but really that's not her (at least fully)  she's hilarious in interviews too.  like she seems really chill.

i can't wait till next month.

This seconed album was special as fukk.

Mick

Billie Eilish-Happier Than Ever (9/10)

I REALLY REEEALLY like this girl now.  i short changed her a lot.

There's a handful of people trying to bring pop outta the mud.  Olivia, Taylor, Sabrina Carpenter. WILLOW.   i'd even put the Weeknd there as well.  and yes......Billie Eilish has to be named.  ESPECIALLY after this sophmore album.

i mean.  Take your pick of tracks on here.  i was gonna list favs but it's literally highlight upon highlight for me.  Her lyrics are super relatable even with me at 39, lol.  she's mixing genres pretty smoothly.  and got  tyo say more nuanced singer then she appears.

She has a new album next month so i'm excited.

I like the debut.....but I LOVE Happier Than Ever.

Mick

25 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

This is the Hackney Diamonds guy? I literally was thinking of comparing the production weirdness on Eddie’s vox to Mick’s from that album yesterday. Wow. My ears must be better than I thought lol. I was not a fan of how that last Stones album sounded, and Mick’s voice was a big reason why. This one isn’t as bad as that, but it’s not great.

 

Side note though, and this could be nostalgia talking, but I remember really enjoying Lightning Bolt when it came out. Those were just better written songs I think. I still remember the singles well, and I haven’t heard them in years. 

this guy worked with pop acts.  why he's working with rock acts like PJ and the Stones don't know.

i liked the stones album but that production stunk too.

Mick

Pearl Jam-Dark Matter (6/10)

OK so i've sat with this album and yea big disappointment after gigaton.  

i listened past the production (whis is also bad...done by the same guy who did Hackney Diamonds.  another bad production job.) and this album really doesn't do much for me.

More lightning bolt than anything else.  there's my problem not an LB guy.

i don't think i'll be revisiting this that often.

Mick

5 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Why do they call him Van the Man? More like Van the can!

i agree but man could the guy sing a song.

Mick

33 minutes ago, goose said:

Of the two, I enjoy Happy Together more, but the enduring  popular appeal of Brown Eyed Girl is undeniable.  As for Van disavowed his most popular song, .  He's ever the dick, isn't he.

my uncle saw him in concert.  he performed the entire show with his back to the audience. lol.  and not once spoke to the crowd.  Fuccked off after 60 minutes too

AND....acording to my uncle.  no brown eyed Girl.

What a douche.

Mick

2 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

I don’t mind triggered drums really. I get it, some drum sounds just don’t exist otherwise and are desirable. But pitch correcting Eddie Vedder and allowing it to be noticeable? Why? Like, if he missed a note here or there and you can make it subtle enough that I can’t tell you fixed it, sure. But it was all over that track and not hiding very well, and also not really blatant enough to sound like it’s being used for the effect… also why would you use that effect on Ed’s voice? Like. Have you heard him sing? Digital effects do not mix well with that instrument imo.

yea.  his voice has remained mostly the same decades later.  so the pitch correction had me confused.  Did he blow a take that bad?  if so he could do it again, lol

Mick

23 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

Another Sky - Beach Day

 

Liked the new PJ. I never spun Gigaton, so I guess I’ll have to go back and try that one too. One thing though, the vox on track two sounded a little off to me… sorta autotuned? Idk. Otherwise it’s a good song, but there’s something really off putting about Eddie Vedder going through any kind of pitch correction.

there's pitch correcting on there for sure.  and i'm pretty sure triggered drums too.

yea honestly this wasn't my fav effort.  Like Gigaton way more.

Mick

On 4/23/2024 at 11:11 AM, Union 5-3992 said:

 

I'd rather have the four minutes of silence than listen to Virtuality or Dog Years again

or Neurotica

Rush has some shit songs.

let's not pretend here, lol

Mick

Joni Mitchell-Blue (9/10)

Mick

1 hour ago, J2112YYZ said:

 

What albums have you tried before? They're really only good up through the early 90s. After that it's the same old same old with them and they miss more than they hit.

yea after the early 90's i wouldn't even bother.  i mean he can but it's no new ideas AT ALL, lol

BUT boy do i love theose early albums.

Mick

Joni Mitchell

Court and Spark (10/10)

Hejira (10/10)

after Taylor Back to Joni.  two of my fav albums of the 70's both Dealing with love and the end of relationships and the rigors of the road.

so Tay in the 70's

People act like Tay is the only person EVER to write this stuff, lol

Mick

34 minutes ago, Leanne said:

Dark Matter - Pearl Jam ❤️❤️

 

I still need to listen to part 2 of The Tortured Poets Department. I listened to the first part on Friday.

i can't lie i played the first half way more.  not a slight against patt 2.  but the OG album just connects with me in a deep deep way.

Mick

12 hours ago, MrMan said:

Same on the Garden.  Pretty much all of Clockwork Angels is overrated IMO as I just can't listen to much of it.  

 

Resist is crummy as well.  

i had hilarious moment abut a decade ago.  i initially loved the garden (one of the few i liked on CA) then one day i'm playing it.  As it's playing my brain just goes.

"this song kinda sucks!!!!!!"

never looked back, lol

Mick

Taylor Swift.

The new album has re-kindled my love for her.

it's dividing folks big time but i think it's her most matured layered album yet.  Folks are saying there's no bangers.  here's my thing.  i don't need Bangers.  i come from singer/songwriters where a majority of songs are thoughtful deep sad songs, lol

so this album clicked with me right off. "oh i need to sit with this!"  Not me, lol

i'm glad she made this.

Mick