Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Danielson - Ships
Brian Wilson - Smile
Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise

... I see these albums a lot on this board (and on others) but after repeated listenings I've about given up on them. I like Bowie and I like the first TVotR, but pass on these. For those who do like them what's your connection?

Danielson--sounds to me like a tamer version of Animal Collective, who I dearly love and defend to the naysayers on the board, along with Drinky.

Destroyer--I don't think I like this for the regular reasons. I just really think he's a great songwriter. Cut and dry this album is a great study of what a ton of bedroom musicians wish they could achieve. One of my qualms is that the press (?) is painting him as some literate asshole. Right now I'm not down with the guy as a person according to what I've read, but music is great.

Brian Wilson--I've been a fan since hs of his songwriting abilities. Van Dyke Park has (in my opinion) more to do with this album in way. Once again, I think this is a precursor to much of the Animal Collective, Sigur Ros and what have you out there now.

DISHPLSKTHX

The Weather Man
Dogville
pickles
talk radio
most of the White album
tv
most of North America
those who do not like chocolat

How different is the new "Smile" from the old bootleg? Which is better IYHO? I think Wilson's story is one of the most compelling in the industry and it's awesome to see him getting kudos but the happy, over orchestration is not a trend I'm really liking.

ding ding ding

i'm not a fan of destroyer and danielson. sufjan... i'm so/so on. i like a few of his songs, but in general, not a big fan.

so sue me.

mainly in Skyscraper, and I believe Big Takeover. Both painted the same picture of a tortured poet who when asked about his music seemed to be more impressed with his own grandiose way of writing than in answering the question at hand.

wtf does dishplskthx mean? I need an internet dictionary.

TVOTR - I wasn't really a big fan of their last album but I like the new one a lot. It sounds like they're at a point where Radiohead was with Kid A.

Brian Wilson - I don't get him either.

Sufjan Stevens - I've only heard a couple of songs but it's nothing that's blown me away.



Pickles rule.

Kid A completely stripped down their sound and then copy and pasted what was left over and over and over again. It was like layering bare bones with bare bones.

Compare "Don't Love You" to "Wolf Like Me", the exact opposite is happening. And the strong harmonies that are front and center in Desparate Youth have taken a step back to the full of the overall sound.

Takk is a much better representation of going "Kid A" (especially if you look at Agaetis and () as the Bends and Okay Computer respectively). It's cleaner and clearer and at the same time insanely more deep.

I'm reading too much into this. Return to Cookie Mountain is in no way a bad album, just too much of an overall sound thing for my tastes.

why i come here as often as i do.

I'm innocent of any charges. Sufjan Stevens 'Illinoise' was 62nd out of 74 2005 albums I rated last year.

TV on the Radio was 44th out of 50 2004 albums I rated.

I actually almost gave TV on the Radio an other chance yesterday but I picked up the C.C.S album instead.