The Soapbox Album Club! (the resurrection)

After quite a few plays I've decided I quite like this James Chance record. It's short enough and good enough to prevent the more a-tonal, jazz, noise parts from getting over irritating. It has quite a punk rock sound in places which is what probably wins me over.

Unlike Karl & SRK, I reckon I'll quite happily return to Buy for a listen now and again. I know next to nothing about the genre though so happy to be steered in the right direction.

Anything other records by them you'd recommend JP? I can confirm Tuckers choice has had no baring on this score!

7/10

I'm procrastinating this, will try to sort it this weekend.

srk's choice:





Sloan - One chord to another

I have no idea what the general knowledge is of sloan as a band outside of Canada, but they were pretty big for a brief period in the early 90s, as they were signed by Geffen as Canada's answer to Nirvana, based off their first album ('smeared'). But when their 2nd (and probably most famous) album 'twice removed'*** dropped in 1994, Geffen freaked, because it sounded nothing like Nirvana, as the band decided to tread a more 60s/beatle-esque style, so they were promptly dropped by the label. This, amongst other things, led to the band breaking up for a brief time in 94-95, but they came back together to record this, which is my favourite album of theirs, and I have to say they've been one of my 10 favourite bands for 15 years, so that's saying something. The three biggest hits on the album are 'the good in everyone', 'the lines you amend' and 'everything you've done wrong'. Not sure if that matters, but a bit of context.

A few things to keep in mind: the four members of the band (Chris Murphy - bass/drums, Jay Ferguson - lead guitar/bass, Patrick Pentland - guitar, and Andrew Scott - drums/guitar) each write songs (whoever writes it sings it), and usually have 2-3 each on every album, and they all have distinct styles, which you'd think would make things a bit disjointed, but it actually flows pretty well.

In any case, one of my 20 favourite records of all-time, and glad to try and spread it to a wider audience.

Enjoy, eh!


***not that those stupid 'best of all-time polls' mean anything, but there have been several of those in the last 5-6 years that have listed 'twice removed' as the greatest Canadian album of all-time, over Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and others.

35mb?? Are you serious?

I just took the files off itunes. Fine, you want a better version, Mr. pure ears? Here's your better version:

OCTA from what

(Original link modified as well)

Nice one, don't think I've ever heard a single song by them before. Downloading.

Grrrreat

Contortions - Buy

When I first heard it I felt a little confused, all the songs seemed to end abruptly. I thought it would all fell into place after some listens but it hasn't really happened, I still think the album would benefit from adding more instrumental/jam parts. But at the same time it has a good overall length, if it was longer it would get tiresome. For example, the change of pace when Anesthetic starts is welcome, after an abrasive run of songs. Twice Removed sounds like a Grim Fandango track.

But though it might not look like it, I don't despise the record, just find hard to get into it, too oppressive. It's dancey, it's chaotic and as frayed as this review and I'd say feels like a Stooges record if you know what I mean. It ends with a bang, I admit.

6/10

Contortions - Buy 4/10

Good album by James Last about having to wait with taking your Xanax till after dinner. A no nonsense field recording of a mental institution right before lunch time - kooky spastic clown blowing an annoying toot thing included. In all Noelness, at first listen I absolutely hated it; way too congested and a-tonal. Fortunately, the world's not set in stone. There are more relaxed bits which build up tension and I find okay to listen to, in a way. Have to say it does remind me a lot of Bloc Party in some other bits. In that I wish both singers to catch the herps ( ). But as I said, in some parts it's almost something. But yeah.. exactly not my kind of music, basically. I'm sorry

James Chance and the Contortions - Buy

I really hate the sax as an instrument, the way it looks and sounds are horrendous and most people look like idiots when playing it. This was one of the reasons I found this album such hard work. I quite like his vocals and you can tell James Murphy has pretty much modelled himself on impersonating him. The bass sounded pretty funky as most post punk bands bass arrangements do and I liked the little squigly high guitar notes that are all over this. But really I couldn't get over that sax, sound wise it's probably a bit free form and jazzy for my tastes but I did enjoy parts of this album; Contort Yourself is pretty good, even bordering on being catchy and Bedroom Athlete has some nice scuzzy guitar sounds thrown in with it's elastic bass. This album definitely benefits from being a short sharp blast, had it been much longer i'd have probably hated it but as it goes i'm just fairly ambivalent, can't see myself going back to it at all. Better than the VirginMarys. 5/10

I'm revising candidates for my future pick and RAM has been one of the discards. But Karl, seriously, it's not a 4/10 record, give it another chance. Also, my top pick of this year seems to have passed completely under the radar here, but maybe it doesn't make too much sense picking it in 2014. If this is still alive, that is...

Hey cool, I broke the album club! What do I win?

We need Mahoney to crack the whip and give us deadlines, without him it'll crumble.

I have been listening SRK, I'll give my thoughts in the next few days.

Shall we extend SRK's choice for another couple of weeks and then get started after Christmas again? I've a feeling this time of year it'll fall apart otherwise.

woooooooooo extension!

I think there's no need for that. People will post the reviews whenever they want anyway and stopping the Club would be tempting fate.

Yeah well get listening to SRK's album then you shitrats!

WHIP!