The One & Only Official Music Geeks' Thread

[Cedric]

I don't know much the Swedish music, but I do know another "small" country with some great bands : BELGIUM. Last year was amazing with Girls in Hawaii and Ghinzu. :headbang: Their CDs are great from the first to the last song, and even to the hidden one. Austin Lace is quite good too, but there are many others interesting bands...

In a fews days, the new dEUS will be released, Pocket Revolution. :cheer:
But I'm not sure there will be songs as great as Instant Street, Rose, Sister Dew, etc... We'll see.

[SoliloQuy]

I recently heard of Kaizers Orchestra, they sound pretty good there from Norway(I think) It is always nice when bands try something different.

[SE6Ajacied]

Something a little bit different.....I'm listening to Dimache a Bamako a lot at the moment, sort of World music sung by a blind husband and wife duet from Mali (I thinK) Amadou and Mariam. It's produced and partly written/performed by my old friend Manu Chao (is there another singer as inventive as that man?) and really is very soulfull and catchy at the same time.

I won't go on, just a recommendation if anyone see's it

.........and that was my 200th post :cheer: :headbang: :cheer:

[DanK]

This post has been idle for a few weeks...thought I might start it going again.

Picked up the new Sigur Ros CD last weekend...bloody awsome. It took me a few listens to really enjoy it, but cannot put it away now.

Would encourage anyone who gets a chance to see this band live, do so. As much as I love em in the studio, it is no comparrison to hearing them live.

Dan logging off for now... :headbang:

[Per]

For now, I can't stop listening to Hope Sandoval and the Warm intentions.

I really love that woman :aai:

I kind of enjoy Kanye West's latest album and I'm also having a monster rock revival at home listening to Monster Magnet. Powertrip really rocks!:

"I'M NEVER GONNA WORK, ANOTHER DAY IN MY LIFE"

/ P

[aveslacker]

Due to some horrible error, I had all the songs on my iPod deleted and replaced with the contents of my friends iTunes. This generally sucked, as I'd ripped from many a borrowed cd, but there were some gems hidden amongst the Eminem and 50 cent type crap.

In particular, I liked Lucinda Williams, Dave Matthews (always a good listen), Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service, No Doubt and The Killers. I also managed to get some Ryan Adams on there (Cold Roses).

So as long as I ffwd past all the crap, there is some decent stuff to jam to on the way to work.

[raymon]

I am currently listening to the new Elbow (Leaders of the free world) and the magnificent The Mars Volta (Frances the mute). A cross over of so many influences. Can't put a label on it, but absolutely worth listening to.

[Marijn]

My 'must-hears' of the last week:

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl
Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV
Soulwax - Nite Versions

Anyone familiar with Ben Lee? Saw the guy performing at te Paradiso last monday [19th], while Ko was probably at the other stage seeing The Magic Numbers. Though not familiar with his music, I had a great time with Ben. He played some really nice acoustic songs and knew how to entertain te public in the seconds between them. Hope to hear more of this guy.

[Blind3]

I'm a broken record,but a 20 day ,14 show, 4200 miles driven( from Washington state to Toronto,Canada and many towns in between) holiday has left me convinced that A) I'm fuckin' nuts and B) Pearl Jam is THE ONE band who I can see night after night and be lerft speechless. An amazing live band. Can't wait for the new album in 06. High marks for openers The Supersuckers and Sleater-Kinney also. The selections from S-K's "The Woods" stand out . 14 down ,5 to go. :headbang:

[Thibb]

Sweet, I've been wanting to do that forever. So far I've only seen PJ three times, but it should have been more. For some strange reason they've twice had to cancel concerts I had tickets to. Once because Eddie crashed during an early European tour, once because of the Roskilde tragedy.

I'm not too excited about the new album, somehow Binaural and (to a lesser degree) Riot Act failed to impress me, but I sure am looking forward to the 2006 Tour.

[DanK]

I'm not too excited about the new album, somehow Binaural and (to a lesser degree) Riot Act failed to impress me, but I sure am looking forward to the 2006 Tour.

Agree with the albums comment. I used to be a HUGE PJ fan, but I think they are past their best (in the studio at least). I hope they prove me wrong. I think I have only listened to Riot Act twice. Really, really boring...having said that. They are still to this day one of THE great live bands out there. Bloody awesome.

My wife never got into PJ until I took her to see them live. Eddie Vedder is one of the live voices of his generation.

Now to a totally different style of music...got the new Ryan Adams album 'Jacksonville City Nights'. Was a bit unsure of this one (RA is probably currently my fav artist, his debut Heartbreaker to this day is still one of my fav CDs). RA stated its 'Honky Tonk'. But having listened to this a few times now...f*&k me. someone get this guy some happy pills. some of the most depressing lyrics ever. bloody love it.

[aveslacker]

I wonder if Pearl Jam had released its albums in reverse order, what people would think of them. They would probably be considered the best band of all time.

IMO PJ peaked with Ten, dipped ever-so-slightly with Vs, and each album since has been a bit of a drop in quality. Now imagine if Ten was their most recent album. It would be considered their equivalent of Achtung Baby or Ritual de lo Habitual - an album put out at the peak of their (considerable) powers.

Instead they produced the masterpiece first and have gone down hill ever since.

But man, what an album (Ten, that is). I heard Jeremy on the radio yesterday, and a live version of Black a few days before. Such good music.

Also, welcome back Blind3. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

[Thibb]

I think Pearl Jam is an emotion-fueled band by nature. Back in the days of Ten they made all these wild and passionate statements (I got a bomb in my temple and it's gonna explode, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, What the f*ck is this world coming to, Do I deserve to be?), and the sincerity of both the rage and the feelings of abandonment carried the songs beyond the actual music. Which is one of the reasons Eddie became so popular: he is in many ways the heart and soul of the band. Not only because of the lyrics he wrote, but because he lived by what he wrote and people caught on to that.

Versus was very much the same case, even if the midde section included a couple of average rockers. Only then two things happened: one was inevitable: they slowly got older and wiser, and therefore, less direct. The other thing was less obvious: PJ learnt by watching Kurt Cobain's demise. They willingly stepped back from the spotlight and changed. Became more reflective, more detached from those feelings of rage and abandonment.

Vitalogy was a mixture of all sorts of things: some good, most pretty bad. Then afterwards came the big turning point when they toured with Neil Young. No Code was a solid album but one by a completely different band. Proof? "Devote myself, my small self, like a book amongst the many on a shelf". "up here in my tree newspapers matter not to me, no more crowbars to my head, i'm trading stories with the leaves instead". Even an entire song in which Eddie reportedly meets himself in a third-person perspective: "know a man, his face seems pulled and tense like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds. So i approach with tact and suggest that he should relax".

Yield was much more accessible musically, but the band sticked to their newly found style of indirect confrontation. In Hiding tells of running away and finding mental balance in isolation. Given to Fly is an almost messianic story of a man set free, who fails to set free his fellow men. But he doesn't suffer the fate of the girl in Why go home (Ten) who remains locked up in a asylum "diagnosed by some stupid f*cks, remind me of reason": the man from GtF is given to fly and he still gives his love, he just gives it away.

Binaural was a big mistake: Pearl Jam trying to rock when there wasn't all that much to say. Riot Act was a horrible title suggesting more of the same but featured better songs. I am Mine is a nice pop ditty and Thumbing my Way is a nice finger picker. And where does Eddie stand in all this? "I’m not living this life without you, I’m selfish and clear: you’re not leaving here without me. I don’t wanna be without my best friend. Please help me to help you help yourself". No more bomb in his temple, he's defusing other peoples bombs now. Good for him.

But that's just my opinion...

[aveslacker]

I think Pearl Jam is an emotion-fueled band by nature. Back in the days of Ten they made all these wild and passionate statements (I got a bomb in my temple and it's gonna explode, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, What the f*ck is this world coming to, Do I deserve to be?), and the sincerity of both the rage and the feelings of abandonment carried the songs beyond the actual music. Which is one of the reasons Eddie became so popular: he is in many ways the heart and soul of the band. Not only because of the lyrics he wrote, but because he lived by what he wrote and people caught on to that.

Versus was very much the same case, even if the midde section included a couple of average rockers. Only then two things happened: one was inevitable: they slowly got older and wiser, and therefore, less direct. The other thing was less obvious: PJ learnt by watching Kurt Cobain's demise. They willingly stepped back from the spotlight and changed. Became more reflective, more detached from those feelings of rage and abandonment.

Vitalogy was a mixture of all sorts of things: some good, most pretty bad. Then afterwards came the big turning point when they toured with Neil Young. No Code was a solid album but one by a completely different band. Proof? "Devote myself, my small self, like a book amongst the many on a shelf". "up here in my tree newspapers matter not to me, no more crowbars to my head, i'm trading stories with the leaves instead". Even an entire song in which Eddie reportedly meets himself in a third-person perspective: "know a man, his face seems pulled and tense like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds. So i approach with tact and suggest that he should relax".

Yield was much more accessible musically, but the band sticked to their newly found style of indirect confrontation. In Hiding tells of running away and finding mental balance in isolation. Given to Fly is an almost messianic story of a man set free, who fails to set free his fellow men. But he doesn't suffer the fate of the girl in Why go home (Ten) who remains locked up in a asylum "diagnosed by some stupid f*cks, remind me of reason": the man from GtF is given to fly and he still gives his love, he just gives it away.

Binaural was a big mistake: Pearl Jam trying to rock when there wasn't all that much to say. Riot Act was a horrible title suggesting more of the same but featured better songs. I am Mine is a nice pop ditty and Thumbing my Way is a nice finger picker. And where does Eddie stand in all this? "I’m not living this life without you, I’m selfish and clear: you’re not leaving here without me. I don’t wanna be without my best friend. Please help me to help you help yourself". No more bomb in his temple, he's defusing other peoples bombs now. Good for him.

But that's just my opinion...

:xyxthumbs:

That's pretty perceptive. I don't know if I would have analyzed it like that, mostly because I began to lose interest (and move overseas) sometime after Vitalogy came out. But that's a very good analysis.

I will say that it is the unique (or at least different) songwriting perspective that makes Elderly Woman... my favorite PJ song, even though I like Ten better as an album. But I find that song haunting, tinged with melancholy, well-written and clever. It also does well to constrain to some degree the emotionalism of the songs on Ten.

Anyway, nice post.

[roche]

I think Pearl Jam is an emotion-fueled band by nature. Back in the days of Ten they made all these wild and passionate statements (I got a bomb in my temple and it's gonna explode, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, What the f*ck is this world coming to, Do I deserve to be?), and the sincerity of both the rage and the feelings of abandonment carried the songs beyond the actual music. Which is one of the reasons Eddie became so popular: he is in many ways the heart and soul of the band. Not only because of the lyrics he wrote, but because he lived by what he wrote and people caught on to that.

Versus was very much the same case, even if the midde section included a couple of average rockers. Only then two things happened: one was inevitable: they slowly got older and wiser, and therefore, less direct. The other thing was less obvious: PJ learnt by watching Kurt Cobain's demise. They willingly stepped back from the spotlight and changed. Became more reflective, more detached from those feelings of rage and abandonment.

Vitalogy was a mixture of all sorts of things: some good, most pretty bad. Then afterwards came the big turning point when they toured with Neil Young. No Code was a solid album but one by a completely different band. Proof? "Devote myself, my small self, like a book amongst the many on a shelf". "up here in my tree newspapers matter not to me, no more crowbars to my head, i'm trading stories with the leaves instead". Even an entire song in which Eddie reportedly meets himself in a third-person perspective: "know a man, his face seems pulled and tense like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds. So i approach with tact and suggest that he should relax".

Yield was much more accessible musically, but the band sticked to their newly found style of indirect confrontation. In Hiding tells of running away and finding mental balance in isolation. Given to Fly is an almost messianic story of a man set free, who fails to set free his fellow men. But he doesn't suffer the fate of the girl in Why go home (Ten) who remains locked up in a asylum "diagnosed by some stupid f*cks, remind me of reason": the man from GtF is given to fly and he still gives his love, he just gives it away.

Binaural was a big mistake: Pearl Jam trying to rock when there wasn't all that much to say. Riot Act was a horrible title suggesting more of the same but featured better songs. I am Mine is a nice pop ditty and Thumbing my Way is a nice finger picker. And where does Eddie stand in all this? "I’m not living this life without you, I’m selfish and clear: you’re not leaving here without me. I don’t wanna be without my best friend. Please help me to help you help yourself". No more bomb in his temple, he's defusing other peoples bombs now. Good for him.

You bring up the albums in a way I had never thought of before and make some good points. My breakdown goes like this:

Ten:obviously a landmark album made by a band that didn't even know each other (Eddie met the rest of the band just months before they started recording. The stars really aligned for this album.

VS:You could see the pitfalls of fame starting to creep in. Ever see PJ during the MTV Music Awards singing "Animal"? Solid performance but all the signs for a crash and burn were there.

Vitalogy: aka Eddie Vedder's solo album. They've said that this was probably where things would have ended if there wasn't some sort of change. It's a good album but really raw and a total one man show. Dave A. (the 3rd PJ drummer) is fired before it's released and Jack Irons replaces him...to me, this is the turning point in the band.

Also during this time, they were taking on Ticketmaster which meant that testifing before Congress and touring in fields (that was a disaster). I had pretty much decided that I should I find a new favorite band cuz my current one was going to implode.

No Code:When I realized that I wouldn't have to find a new favorite band after all. You can just tell that there was a different vibe around the band. And yes, the music and atittude had changed as well. This was the starting point of the Pearl Jam we see today. No longer young and idealistic but older and practical. They still are passionate about the things they wrote about before but instead of crusading against it, they try to do what they can to raise awareness in the hopes of bringing about change.

Yield: my favorite album and the continued evolution of the new sound of Pearl Jam. In fact, I think this is the perfection of what was started on No Code. Just a great rock album. No, it's not Ten II (which, in my opinion <and I think the band agrees>, was WAY overproduced), but who cares?

Binaural:Another new drummer, Soundgarden's Matt Cameron, and another change in style, although not nearly as big as No Code was. This is much more driving album since Cameron is a more straightforward drummer. Eddie takes numerous jabs on the album (most notably, Bill Gates on "Soon Forget"), but it's definitely not just about venting anymore with this band. Check out "Thin Air", it's just a love song. No hidden meaning, no political message. Just a song about finding someone you truly want to be with.

Riot Act:I definitely was on the fence with this one when it came out but I've grown to love it. This is where I disagree with Thibb. There is a lot of anger and emotion on this record (Bu$hleaguer being the most obvious). Is it more indirect than Ten? I could see how you would say that. But Green Disease and 1/2 Full are two songs that blast the haves with as much venom as anything on Ten. The difference between the two albums is that on Ten there were no breaks. Riot Act spews, then rests, then spews again. The guys are older so there are some things they wanna say between the rants. Frankly, I'm older too so I can connect with that.

Can you tell I'm a huge PJ fan?

Blind, I was at the Gorge (greatest venue I'll never go back to!) and Vancouver. If work permitted, I'd go to more. Glad to see you represented!

[bryan]

I'm listening to Mystery Achievement by The Pretenders at the moment.

I never realised the Stone Roses stole the I am the Resurrection intro wholesale like that.

[Bert]

To get back on Pearl Jam, while Ten has always been my favorite album Vs has some of my favorite songs. Daughter and Elderly Women are their best songs in my opinion.

[aveslacker]

Leiden is a nice place - both my parents went to University there, and we lived in Oegstgeest for a while when I was younger. My uncle still lives there.

Oh, and I agree with your comments about Pearl Jam.

[Over Pasanens Head]

WHY GUITARS ARE BETTER THAN WOMEN

Guitars don't get pregnant.
You can play your Guitar any time of the month.
Guitars don't have parents.
Guitars don't whine... unless you want them to.
Guitars don't care how many other Guitars you've played
Guitars don't care how many other Guitars you have.
Guitars don't care if you look at other Guitars.
Your Guitar doesn't care if you never listen to it.
You can stop playing your Guitar as soon as you want and it won't get frustrated.
Your parents won't remain in touch with your old Guitar after you dump it.
Guitars don't get headaches.
Guitars don't insult you if you're a bad player.
Guitars don't care if you're late.
You don't have to take a shower before you play your Guitar.
If your Guitar doesn't look good you can refinish it or get new parts.
You can play your Guitar the first time you meet it, without having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.
The only protection you have to wear when playing your Guitar is a decent thumb pick.

and last, but not least:

If you decide to part with an old Guitar, you don't have to give up half of everything you own.

[Blind3]

And guitars, when in the hands of Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and even Robert Plant last week in CHI-town, are better than alot of women. Sweet Jesus. Best $1000 I ever spent.Well, except for the several Ajax USA trips that is. If you're in Chicago, catch a show at House Of Blues.Great venue. Capacity of 1300 people. Great ribs at HOB's restaurant or Carson's on Wells St.

If you want a recording of a great show, download last week's Hurricane Relief Benefit at Pearl Jam.com .The encore's alone were amazing:Given To Fly, it's inspiration Going To California, Little Sister, the Motown hit Money(That's What I Want),the first ever live Fool In The Rain, and Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World ...great stuff.Not to diminish a short, great set by Robert Plant and The Strange Sensation,including Black Dog, Four Sticks, and Gallow's Pole, or Pearl Jam's longer set.

PJ 06 in USA,Europe, and maybe Oz says Jeff Ament.If so, it's three continents for me.

Double :xyxthumbs: :xyxthumbs:

[Kowalczyk]

Now to a totally different style of music...got the new Ryan Adams album 'Jacksonville City Nights'. Was a bit unsure of this one (RA is probably currently my fav artist, his debut Heartbreaker to this day is still one of my fav CDs). RA stated its 'Honky Tonk'. But having listened to this a few times now...f*&k me. someone get this guy some happy pills. some of the most depressing lyrics ever. bloody love it.

I've also listened to a few times now. Good album. Definitely better than some of his recent ones. Good collection of songs. More Gram Parsons than ever, I would say.

One detail: does your CD also have Always On My Mind as a bonus track? Mine does and I must say that's kind of 'unforgiveable'... You just don't cover classics like that. You can only destroy them and there's nothing to add. But that's a detail, I guess (especially 'cos it's a bonus track).

K.

[Per]

Now to a totally different style of music...got the new Ryan Adams album 'Jacksonville City Nights'. Was a bit unsure of this one (RA is probably currently my fav artist, his debut Heartbreaker to this day is still one of my fav CDs). RA stated its 'Honky Tonk'. But having listened to this a few times now...f*&k me. someone get this guy some happy pills. some of the most depressing lyrics ever. bloody love it.

I've also listened to a few times now. Good album. Definitely better than some of his recent ones. Good collection of songs. More Gram Parsons than ever, I would say.

One detail: does your CD also have Always On My Mind as a bonus track? Mine does and I must say that's kind of 'unforgiveable'... You just don't cover classics like that. You can only destroy them and there's nothing to add. But that's a detail, I guess (especially 'cos it's a bonus track).

K.

But isn't always on my mind kind of a "all around song"? From the era when producers made the songs and mangled them out to each and every artist to do?

I know a couple of artists that have done that song back in the day (Elvis and Willie Nelson off the top of my head) and since Ryan is carrying the Honky Tonk and country heritage in his own way I think that he is one of the guys around today that should be forgiven for doing it.

Now if Roxette or some cheesy euro-disco trash were to it, that would be unforgiveable.

[Kowalczyk]

But isn't always on my mind kind of a "all around song"? From the era when producers made the songs and mangled them out to each and every artist to do?

Yeah. That's why it's so... dead. To me, anyway.

K.

[Per]

But isn't always on my mind kind of a "all around song"? From the era when producers made the songs and mangled them out to each and every artist to do?

Yeah. That's why it's so... dead. To me, anyway.

K.

Ah,

I thought you ment it was somse kind of sacriledge to do the song or something.....I should have just understood that you kind of had the same thought as I did. :xyxthumbs:

[DanK]

Now to a totally different style of music...got the new Ryan Adams album 'Jacksonville City Nights'. Was a bit unsure of this one (RA is probably currently my fav artist, his debut Heartbreaker to this day is still one of my fav CDs). RA stated its 'Honky Tonk'. But having listened to this a few times now...f*&k me. someone get this guy some happy pills. some of the most depressing lyrics ever. bloody love it.

I've also listened to a few times now. Good album. Definitely better than some of his recent ones. Good collection of songs. More Gram Parsons than ever, I would say.

One detail: does your CD also have Always On My Mind as a bonus track? Mine does and I must say that's kind of 'unforgiveable'... You just don't cover classics like that. You can only destroy them and there's nothing to add. But that's a detail, I guess (especially 'cos it's a bonus track).

K.

I guess I am not the one to judge as Ryan is one of my fav artists. I will try to be impartial ;)

In general I feel covers of classics don't really work. Most of the time the original is still the best. A lot of people think that Ryans cover of Wonderwall is as good or better than the original. At least he didn't just try to recreate it, and added his own style, but not sure if its better than Oasis.

I do think however that his cover of Always on my mind is actually one of the better covers of that song. The right sounding tone and the lyrics seem to fit Ryan's style (ie: totally bloody depressive!) which also helps.

At least a 'true' artist has covered it and not some 5 piece boy band, who release it as their first single, sells a bucket load only until their 2nd single comes out and its total rubbish and we never hear from them again...sorry...some pent up agression to 'fake' music.

Long live real artists who:
a. actually write a decent lyric like...'a kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder' - Jeff Buckley - and not lyrics like 'i like you, you like me' etc.
b. play an instrument or
c. have the ability to create amazing sounds and loops from a PC etc
d. can play live
e. work their arses off to get where they are and not just have some record guy turn up and say...'hey you look good...you should be a singer...sign here'.
f. have NOT won a contest called 'something idol'

:headbang: