Fun Stuff > BAND
The one album
Jackie Blue:
--- Quote from: billiumbean on 25 Jan 2009, 23:32 ---Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
This album is something of an anomaly. First off, the request of the author of this thread was to name the best album of an artist, and though there is clearly no contest between Aeroplane and their first album, On Avery Island
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Sorry, buster. I have preferred On Avery Island since I first heard both albums in '98. I almost never listen to Aeroplane anymore, at least not the whole album, but I still listen the fuck out of Avery.
To say that Aeroplane is unquestioningly "better" is a mystery to me; lyrically, I think Avery hits higher notes ("Song Against Sex", "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone", "April 8th", "Naomi"). For me, the only song that comes close to those on Aeroplane is "King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1". Other people may find more merit in the more "poetic" nature of Aeroplane, but not everyone.
Then you have the actual music. It's been said that you can play every Neutral Milk Hotel song using about five chords total, and it's true, but at least Avery has blissed-out production that somewhat obscures the fact. Somewhere around the hundredth time I listened to "Oh Comely" I just kind of got bored of E-C-E-C-E-C, and the damn thing goes on for 10 minutes. Yeah, I know there's a D chord in there eventually, but still.
Not to say I don't like Aeroplane, but it has gotten old. On Avery Island never gets old; it always makes me feel excited and sad and hopeful and suicidal all at once, without any over-obtuseness to get in the way. I'll take "I just want to dance in your tangles to give me some reason to move" over "semen stains the mountaintops" anyday.
the_pied_piper:
The Decemberists - Castaways & Cutouts
Although i'm a bit of a fanatic for all things Decemberists i would put this album over the rest just for the seamlessness between each song. Its a great album without a poor track and was actually the last Decemberists album i heard.
Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
The most recent of Sam Beam's band's albums and slightly more upbeat than the others. It also has less bluegrass than the others and a more prominent backing from the band.
--- Quote from: tuna ketchup x on 26 Jan 2009, 09:09 ---TPP: The Sunset Tree is my favorite Goats album too, and if I were trying to get someone into JD I'd probably play that one. I just think Tally is more representative as a whole.
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I see what you're getting at, it was the first album where he dropped the lo-fi appeal yet carried the same lyrical style over before changing slightly for We Shall All Be Healed.
On the NMH debate, i prefer ITAOTS. The instrumentals on On Avery Island grate a bit too much though i do love Song Against Sex and Gardenhead-Leave Me Alone.
spoon_of_grimbo:
--- Quote from: jimbunny on 26 Jan 2009, 00:22 ---Ocean Machine: Biomech - The Devin Townsend Band
Barring all of the Strapping Young Lad material, which I've never listened to, I'd call this Devin Townsend's best album - his first with what would be called The Devin Townsend Band (to differentiate from the SYL project). After this, his albums with this lineup fall into a kind of groove; it's a good groove, perhaps, but Ocean Machine foreshadows the sound to come while remaining his most diverse musical effort.
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amazing album! you seriously need to check out SYL though - City and Alien being the best of the bunch.
Thrillho:
--- Quote from: valley_parade on 26 Jan 2009, 08:57 ---
--- Quote from: David_Dovey on 23 Jan 2009, 20:15 ---To weigh in on the Beatles debate, I would say Sgt. Peppers' is great, mostly because it is where I started, and that seemed to work.
The White Album is a big no, in my opinion. Sure it balances the pop and the experimenting well, but-
a) double albums are not good to start off with, full stop
b) A lot of the experimental things fall flat on their face. Do you really want a person's first Beatles experience to involve Revolution 9?
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There was a thread last year (I think) where we cut the White Album down to a single disc. It was strange.
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It was when I realised my cut of the White Album was only about 25 minutes long.
Patrick:
Built To Spill - There's Nothing Wrong With Love
There is some pretty supreme songwriting in here. Also, I am pretty sure nobody in this band has ever gone more than an hour without at least two hits from the bong.
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