Comments on: My Favorite Albums of 2007 (Plus Some I Thought Were Terrible) http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:13:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: drownerce http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-868 drownerce Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:35:43 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-868 Thanks for the post Thanks for the post

]]> By: mpb http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-412 mpb Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:10:17 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-412 Zzz, we already covered it further up in the comments. It's meant to be tongue in cheek. I had hoped the attitude espoused through the rest of the piece would indicate that I'd truly be averse to such sentiments. Thanks. Besides, there are way more arrogant and deluded things in here that you didn't even mention! Zzz, we already covered it further up in the comments. It’s meant to be tongue in cheek. I had hoped the attitude espoused through the rest of the piece would indicate that I’d truly be averse to such sentiments. Thanks.

Besides, there are way more arrogant and deluded things in here that you didn’t even mention!

]]> By: Zzz http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Zzz Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:20:11 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-411 "I liked Arcade Fire way before you did" what an arrogant and deluded statement to make. First I think it's already been proven in these comments that your readers are likely to be savvy individuals who probably cottoned on to Arcade Fire before your "written proof". And I was as surprised as you that 'No Cars Go' appeared on 'Neon Bible' having had the demo for several years it certainly didn't seem to make sense, so we are in agreement on one thing at least. However it is people like you that are all that's wrong with the snobby music blogosphere and part of the reason I left it. There is no need a b**** about it, "oh I'm better than you" attitude is neither endearing nor engaging, my feeling is that music blogs/sites are there to point out music to people that may have missed out/want new stuff/need to be reminded how great music is like a cool fun friend it's the 21st century mixed tape not the shitty guy in High Fidelity. This is my first and no doubt last time reading your blog. “I liked Arcade Fire way before you did” what an arrogant and deluded statement to make. First I think it’s already been proven in these comments that your readers are likely to be savvy individuals who probably cottoned on to Arcade Fire before your “written proof”. And I was as surprised as you that ‘No Cars Go’ appeared on ‘Neon Bible’ having had the demo for several years it certainly didn’t seem to make sense, so we are in agreement on one thing at least. However it is people like you that are all that’s wrong with the snobby music blogosphere and part of the reason I left it. There is no need a b**** about it, “oh I’m better than you” attitude is neither endearing nor engaging, my feeling is that music blogs/sites are there to point out music to people that may have missed out/want new stuff/need to be reminded how great music is like a cool fun friend it’s the 21st century mixed tape not the shitty guy in High Fidelity. This is my first and no doubt last time reading your blog.

]]> By: michael5000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-409 michael5000 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:01:05 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-409 Thanks for the Rough Guide. I will give 'em another shot after the holidays -- I think you will agree with me that, whatever its virtues, this record is not particularly "Christmassy." Thanks for the Rough Guide. I will give ‘em another shot after the holidays — I think you will agree with me that, whatever its virtues, this record is not particularly “Christmassy.”

]]> By: mpb http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-408 mpb Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:57:14 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-408 michael5000, Part of my appreciation for <I>Liars</I> comes from an understanding of what it took this band to reach this point. The album is a remarkable distillation of their previous work, reigning in their previously wild, experimental excursions and demonstrating that they can succeed in tighter, more structured songs that still retain the surprising and clever elements that appeared in their older work. This might be something you won't see if this is your first exposure to the band. I also respond to this album on a purely visceral level. It's nice to hear a band just cut loose and make music that isn't preciously self-conscious or wrapped in some cheesy gimmick. Or worse, music that simply pantomimes traditional styles and genres without adding anything new or interesting to the mix. My distaste for virtually all contemporary indie rock stems from such things. <I>Liars</I>, I feel, avoids such pitfalls. The songs, while structured, are designed in unique and atypical ways. When they do reference other artists or allude to other styles, they aren't simply regurgitating a particular sound, they're playing with it, twisting it, wedging it into their own perspective. I'm glad you decided to give the album a shot, and I hope you let it grow on you a bit and maybe explore their other music as well. michael5000,

Part of my appreciation for Liars comes from an understanding of what it took this band to reach this point. The album is a remarkable distillation of their previous work, reigning in their previously wild, experimental excursions and demonstrating that they can succeed in tighter, more structured songs that still retain the surprising and clever elements that appeared in their older work. This might be something you won’t see if this is your first exposure to the band.

I also respond to this album on a purely visceral level. It’s nice to hear a band just cut loose and make music that isn’t preciously self-conscious or wrapped in some cheesy gimmick. Or worse, music that simply pantomimes traditional styles and genres without adding anything new or interesting to the mix. My distaste for virtually all contemporary indie rock stems from such things. Liars, I feel, avoids such pitfalls. The songs, while structured, are designed in unique and atypical ways. When they do reference other artists or allude to other styles, they aren’t simply regurgitating a particular sound, they’re playing with it, twisting it, wedging it into their own perspective.

I’m glad you decided to give the album a shot, and I hope you let it grow on you a bit and maybe explore their other music as well.

]]> By: michael5000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-406 michael5000 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:11:10 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-406 So, I bought "Liars" on this blogs recommendation, and on the first couple of listens haven't been able to match your enthusiasm. Any suggestions of what to look for? Or, to put it in a very boring and business-y way, what do you see as the "core strengths" of the band? So, I bought “Liars” on this blogs recommendation, and on the first couple of listens haven’t been able to match your enthusiasm. Any suggestions of what to look for? Or, to put it in a very boring and business-y way, what do you see as the “core strengths” of the band?

]]> By: Idetrorce http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-405 Idetrorce Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:52:23 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-405 very interesting, but I don't agree with you Idetrorce very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce

]]> By: john http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-396 john Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:03:35 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-396 1. Cold War Kids 2. Arctic Monkeys 3. Radiohead 4. Bat For Lashes 5. Band Of Horses 5. The Coral 6. Feist ("Let It Die" is however far more better) 1. Cold War Kids
2. Arctic Monkeys
3. Radiohead
4. Bat For Lashes
5. Band Of Horses
5. The Coral
6. Feist (“Let It Die” is however far more better)

]]> By: mpb http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-390 mpb Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:24:26 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-390 I think <em>Drums</em> was awfully sedate compared to <em>Liars</em>. It just strikes me as a very temperate album. I'm not going to pretend the band doesn't have a core sound, they do, as you rightly point out. It's just where they get to from that starting point can be wildly different between tracks. Something like "Houseclouds" is a pretty significant departure, especially up against a "Leather Prowler" or "Clear Island." But obviously the <em>Monument</em> -> <em>Drowned</em> shift was huge and more apparent since they shed the whole rhythm section which essentially defined the first album. I think Drums was awfully sedate compared to Liars. It just strikes me as a very temperate album.

I’m not going to pretend the band doesn’t have a core sound, they do, as you rightly point out. It’s just where they get to from that starting point can be wildly different between tracks. Something like “Houseclouds” is a pretty significant departure, especially up against a “Leather Prowler” or “Clear Island.”

But obviously the Monument -> Drowned shift was huge and more apparent since they shed the whole rhythm section which essentially defined the first album.

]]> By: qwerty http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-389 qwerty Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:48:15 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-389 What is so shockingly different between the last 3 Liars albums? They have the same rhythms, same bored singing, same out-of-tune guitar, some form of song structures, same hints of This Heat and Nirvana (yeah) appropriation. This last album sounds like outtakes from "Drums Not Dead". When I heard them say,"we're going to play guitar solos and write real pop songs" I thought wow!, that WILL be a change. Didn't happen. By the way, I like Liars a lot, but nothing compares to the shift from "Stuck a Monument" to "They were wrong". It's all been relatively the same since. What is so shockingly different between the last 3 Liars albums?
They have the same rhythms, same bored singing, same out-of-tune guitar, some form of song structures, same hints of This Heat and Nirvana (yeah) appropriation. This last album sounds like outtakes from “Drums Not Dead”.
When I heard them say,”we’re going to play guitar solos and write real pop songs” I thought wow!, that WILL be a change. Didn’t happen.
By the way, I like Liars a lot, but nothing compares to the shift from “Stuck a Monument” to “They were wrong”. It’s all been relatively the same since.

]]> By: Kuma http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Kuma Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:29:40 +0000 http://www.michaelpatrickbrady.com/blog/my-favorite-albums-of-2007-plus-some-i-thought-were-terrible/#comment-387 For those of us who saw Arcade Fire before they signed to Merge and bought their amazing EP directly from Regine after a show (bottom of a Wrens bill at Knitting Factory, NYC, 2003?), even Funeral was a disapointment. The Springsteen appropriations on Neon Bible are laughable, so I second your thoughts on that. For those of us who saw Arcade Fire before they signed to Merge and bought their amazing EP directly from Regine after a show (bottom of a Wrens bill at Knitting Factory, NYC, 2003?), even Funeral was a disapointment. The Springsteen appropriations on Neon Bible are laughable, so I second your thoughts on that.

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