I own and have listened to Mikal Cronin's self-titled album several times. Sometimes it clicks, but most times I feel like I'm eating a press turd burrito wrapped in Ty Segall's coat tail.
Still, I read time after time that it's a masterpiece. Then I think maybe I missed something. I listen to it again. And then temporarily understand its basic, bland and boring songs are supported by creative production...until I forget or second-guess myself several months later.

I'll assume all the praise for this guy comes from those born after 1990.

MCII sounds like the next Nada Surf record.
I'm not a fan of that band but I can acknowledge they do this stuff way way better.

Not only does MCII exude mediocrity, it comes with a $19 price tag without any incentives. It's a crossover album.

'I'm Done Running From You' is a complete rip off of The Rembrandts Friends song.

Despite this I sort of weirdly liked it. I've not heard the album but I might pick it up when it's released in a couple of weeks.

I'll give you a more rounded opinion then.

By the way, if anyone wants a partner-in-whine, start a thread about Kurt Vile. I've got a reservoir of invective on that sleepy piece of shit.

I just blew this shit off to nothing nearing my interests. But it's likely just another heavily-promoted end product from the human centipede comprised of compensated and castrated music reviewers eating each others' shit.

I thought maybe I'd like it considering I like his buddy Granduciel's work with War on Drugs so much, but its sucks crap through a hose. And, his last album never stood on legs for long either.

i'll take the bait: i like the kurt vile record quite a bit, when i'm looking for an easy listen.

MCII i won't return to, however.

Jerkass, I'm sure what music you actually consider good. You seem to put yourself out there way less often in that respect.

Like I'm kind of at a loss as to why anyone would struggle so much with the first Mikal Cronin album. It's a pretty simple and straightforward thing. You don't like it? Fine. Move on. I think it's great, but I'm not sure I've ever called it a masterpiece. I can't recall seeing anyone else call it that, either. It doesn't propel music forward into the future. It's just a well written, composed, and executed pop album. It works on simple, catchy hooks and melodies. And for the most part, it's better than anything Ty Segall has done that I've heard. He's less of a coattail rider than a like-minded collaborator with superior talent.

I haven't listened to MCII yet, though. It could suck for all I know. I'll probably listen to it today or tomorrow and share thoughts then.

Kurt Vile, I don't know. He is kinda boring. The last album slowly grew on me, and I'm hoping this one will, too. It's just so ridiculously long.

while it wasnt earth shattering, i did like the MC debut. havent heard this yet. i think this Kurt Vile record is his best, not sure thats glowing praise. Salve Ambient is better than anything hes done on his own

I find The War on Drugs way more boring/less endearing than Kurt Vile.

He at least has his own songwriting voice.

dude is awesome. i love the album except i wish there was no fucking flute on it. that shit was real stupid.
also, the band that i saw him playing with was 10 times better than the band on the record. so im excited to check out mcii

I knew nothing about Mikal Cronin before this album, but I am really liking it. I don't see the Nada Surf comparison at all.

If you pay attention, you'll see stuff I support scattered about. If you think about the "OMGz, best album this year" stuff Dalen used to post about every flavor of the week you'll realize there's a lot of musical turds that float to the top but fall apart with time. Historically and statistically there's way more shit than flowers. You can spray all the optimistic air fresheners you want but that stank is gonna overpower it. I think we should call crap for what it is. But I also understand that once someone buys into a piece of detrius, the shit stains are hard to wash out.

So you don't think that it's a surfy jangly pop record?

Sure, but surfy jangly pop record doesn't automatically equal Nada Surf.

Close enough.

There's a pile of the "new garage" bands and artists that I just don't hear. Kurt Vile and Ty Segall are both at the top of that list. I wouldn't put War on Drugs in the same exact genre but they can suck it too.


This might be the best thread to put this:

http://video.adultswim.com/promotions/201305_garageswim/

Adult Swim's free download of Garage Swim, featuring

OBN IIIs
King Louie's Missing Monuments
Black Lips
King Khan
Mind Spiders
King Tuff
JEFF the Brotherhood
Thee Oh Sees
Apache Dropout
Mikal Cronin
Cheap Time
The Gories
Bass Drum of Death
The Weekend

that's like a comp aimed specifically at me

MCII is a pop record, with some fuzz thrown in to kick it up a notch. I'm not picking up on the "garage" comparisons on this record. I dig these tracks cos they possess some good melodies. Full stop.

Haven't heard the first record.

EDIT - I'm not a fan of those bands mentioned on that list, but I do like Ty Segall to some degree when he turns it down as well as teaming up with Timmy P from White Fence.

I'm on a first listen of MCII right now. The fuzz does seem like a layer added to the pop rather than the other way around. I'll keep listening.

I'm enjoying that comp. I really like Missing Monuments (King Louie keeps getting better - might even one day surpass or live up to the legacy of his previous band). Cheap Time, the OBNIIIs, and King Khan clock in with some good tracks. King Tuff might become something I like, but it's sort of a wimpy photocopy of Warm Soda/Bare Wires. The rest of it sort of melds into a single track, with similar vocalists and tempos and lack of hooks. I don't know what anybody hears in JEFF the Brotherhood.

pinkerton

This is very strange to see The Gories noted in here. Legends.

It may not be your cup o' tea, but I don't get Kurt Vile being described as "garage."

thanks for separating them 'cause man those others suck so much harder

Kurt Vile is not "garage" at all and doesn't really sound like Ty Segall at all.

Kurt Vile sounds pretty much exactly like you'd expect an affiliate of War on Drugs gone solo to sound. Somewhat stripped down, a little more lyrics-focused, but basically the same kind of ultra-laid-back alt-rock.

Anyway I finally listened to MCII and didn't really like it. Also talk about not "garage" at all. It sounds like he tried to make an album that could have been lost in the shuffle of mid-'90s alternative rock/pop and succeeded masterfully. I'll give it more listens, but it was pretty disappointing after his relatively punchy, catchy debut.

"See It My Way" off MCII would fit perfectly on a Dawson's Creek soundtrack right between a Pete Yorn and Eagle Eye Cherry track.