Underwhelmed by the production. I really liked Aldhils Arboretum but this one sounds paper thin in a way I can't quite pin down. I also don't like a lot of the cheesy synths. Anyone else have an opinion?

Satanic Panic?

Yeah, the production's not great, but I like it a lot anyway.

I bought it on vinyl (clear red), but I wasn't impressed with the sound. The mp3s I originally downloaded sound clearer to me. I'd be curious to see if anyone shares that opinion.

Yeah I picked up the cd when it came out, I had never known much of their previous work (I find quite a few of the Elephant Six bands bland)...and I liked the album the first time i listened to it. And then I listened to it a couple more times and I couldn't even get through the whole album, which leaves me dissapointed. Because it's fun...but it's like...I don't know, I can't explain it. Drags on, and causes me to count down the seconds until each subsequent finishes.

production's ok. it'll probably make my top 13 of the year. i've never heard any of their other stuff.

I love it! It is a lock for my Top 10 this year. Just catchy as all get out.

in my top 5 this year easily. i'm not sure what's not to like on this LP (yeah i got the LP also). it's beatles/beach boys/zombies inspired indie pop with lots of cool melodies and harmonies. i guess that's right up my alley (being a fan of brian wilson and E6 and all that to begin with). in fact...i'm going to throw that vinyl on right now...!

here's my quick take on the production issue for ya'll

early stuff = raw. esp. "early four-track recordings" and to a lesser extent "cherry peel"

middle stuff = a little bit more fleshed out, a little bit more warm. no longer on a shoestring budget (I think they had 2 shoestrings at this point). "gay parade" is arguably the best of this period. they were able to bring in the indie fuzz without getting too noisy.

later stuff is split

"asleep in the poppies" is by far their most lush production. very solid, very busy, but very clean.

"adhils aboretum" believe it or not, was their one-shot "exploratory" album. instead of a crazy, poppy, epic concept album, they decided to go a different route and just do a series of pop/rock songs. probably my least favorite oM album. there are some catchy nuggets but overall it's nothing special. the sound is good and crisp though, and if you want a near facsimile of what they sound like live this gets you close.

"satanic panic" i love. they were trying to make a rock album or power pop album, so the need for a wall-of-sound type production is not necessary. also, this album isn't as diverse as "poppies" so there's not too much of a jumble for your ears to sort out. i think i would call this their "smoothest" album. it may sound thin in comparison to the last record but i think it's perfect overall.

contra - you should've gotten the LP! that way you can take the yummy oM in smaller doses.

bort

np: of montreal

at first this bored the shit out of me. i missed the cuteness and just attchment i developed to some of the more personal songs on aldhils - i.e. "kissing in the grass", "panckes for one"


but satnic pnic hs just grown on me sooo much.

rapture rpes the muses, disconnect the dots, trip to englnd, they are just so well done and tend to combine so many varying styles within one song.

his melodies on this album seem to be much more sophisticated and lot of the basslines are much punchier and higher in the register, probbly a result of kevin plying pretty much everything on here.

this shit fucking rocks.