The Joseph Arthur album has really grown on me lately. Still a few moments when I feel a little uneasy with his production choices, but pretty easy to forget about that part. Nice album. I only have a copy and hadn't listened to it enough to know where to put it on my shmoo list, but it probably woulda been pretty well up there if I did it today. But only #139 for Steve Albini's Electrelane chicks? Man, I really thought that album was kinda special. But I guess someone could probably pick just about any album on the list and make a case why it should be higher. But how can you resist a lovely girl playing guitar in a Ramones shirt? Are you guys (and girls) made of stone?!

she looks like a robot.

Yeah she does. Is that a problem? Hehehe, stepford rock. Now I got the Futureheads song worming through my brain....

I am a robot, living like a robot, talk like a robot, in the habititting way

The best thing is our life span (i don't mind)
We last nigh on hundred years (i don't mind)
If that mean's we'll be together i don't mind
I have no mind, i have no mind

Im programmed to follow you (robot), do exactly as you do (robot)
Now my nervous system's blue , i feel fine

[Bet she'd loosen up after a couple shots of SpontaneousPoet's Listerine]

I totally agree about the Electrelane album. Awesome album. It was definitely on my top 20 list but that album could've been higher on the list if it wasn't spelled wrong in the drop down box, cause I wrote it in with it's correct spelling.

that electrelane girl was the best part of the show when i saw them in september. i just stared at her the whole time. they were otherwise incredibly dull.

I fixed that (counting yours with the mispelled drop-down ones), #139 is after the fix.

Um, where is the big list???

Here?

I was all about Electrelane when their first album came out--which I still love. I thought the 2004 record was a bit of a letdown, but still not bad. It was pretty low in my list of 20.

Joseph Arthur's album was #1 on my Top-20 list.

The problem I had with the Joseph Arthur album is that All Of Our Hands was better than any song on that album.

But yeah, the Electrelane shoulda been higher. No thanks to me.

She cute.

It is strange how he didn't include that song on the album. I don't know if I'd say it's better than any song on OSWR, but I'm guessing he left it off because it was probably recorded after the masters were due or something.

Now, if he left "Can't Exist" or "Devil's Broom" off the album, I'd be really angry!

Was #2 on my list, but I am but a poor barber, and even the walls have ears.

IT was number three on mine. Which for those here who've known me probably would find that hard to believe.

Anyways, I definitely loved the album. I damn near hated Redemption's Son. Well hate is a strong word. Let's use "disappointed".

I agree that "can't exist" is probably one of the best on the album. But so is "devil's broom" and "leave us alone".

Have you heard though that his cover of The Smith's "there is a light that never goes out"(which is arguably the best part of his shows this past year) is on this new Starbucks cd with all sorts of covers being done? The cd actually looks pretty good, it has Rufus Wainwright, Mindy Smith and a host of other actually damn good acts like them.

electrelane, riyl? never heard 'em before

joseph arthur made my top 20. what's everyone else's problem??

I can't quite categorize Electrelane.

That link won't work, it's a link to a cached search on your machine.

It's one of those albums that doesn't really knock me out with anything in particular, but one that I always seem to be in the mood to hear. They do go through a few styles, but usually retain some of that Velvet Underground rhythm sound like the Feelies. And more recently, Life Without Buildings. Electrelane mixes in some of the sound that I love about Blonde Redhead too. Gives it a little bit of a fractured sound. Some very cool influences. Another thing that really impresses me about it is the mastering. Most of the CDs you buy nowadays, even the indie stuff that doesn't really have a chance at mainstream radio play, is just horribly compressed, with nearly zero dynamic range. Average level almost the same as peak. The last Modest Mouse CD is a good example. Love the music but awful recording and/or mastering on most of it with loads of clipping. But it was designed for radio play so I wasn't really that surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. But this Electrelane disc is great. Just the direct opposite. You really have to crank up the volume, just like in the "old days". Average levels come out in the 50% to 60% range with peaks up above 90% when you analyze it. Lots of dynamic range. Recorded by Steve Albini and mastered at Abbey Road by Steve Rooke, two of the good guys. Great team. I only wish more rock CDs were mastered like this.

kinski (definitely), quickspace, stereolab, dirty three, latter-day yo la tengo

but the first 3 especially

also only the second album was done with Albini.

I'm surprised you have such strong negative feelings toward Redemption's Son. I don't really see a drop in quality from Come to Where I'm From and its sequel, and actually enjoy Redemption's Son very much. Is it because it's more uppity overall?

Actually Redemption's Son is CTWIF's sequel. Order goes: Vacancy, Big City Secrets, CTWIF, Junkyard Hearts EP'S, Redemption's and then OSWR.

I thought it was too soft, and over produced. Lyrics weren't as strong as CTWIF. Nothing hit me much. I liked "september baby" and "I would rather hide". But everything else fell flat to me. The angst normally found in his voice and his guitar was missing.

That's what he said.

I read it differently. I read it as if there was an album between CTWIF and Redemptions.

My mistake.

Oops, my sentence was a little wordy. It should have read: "I didn't really see a drop in quality from Come to Where I'm From to its sequel."



There is, but Arthur told me not to share it with anyone.

By the way, I would appreciate it if you gave me your copy of Vacancy for free because I don't want to pay $80 for it.