The Album Club 2017

Trollheart · 03-05-2017, 02:26 PM

Thanks Batty: we're all done now. On to number three!

OccultHawk · 03-05-2017, 02:52 PM

Quote:

So put me down for a mild like, but if I were OccultHawk I would have chosen Macabre's Dahmer, a somewhat similar album that's way better.

12 years later, though.

The Batlord · 03-05-2017, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

12 years later, though.

But... Macabre!

OccultHawk · 03-06-2017, 03:41 AM

Review of Face Tat

There's playing outside the box and then there's playing like there is no box. This might be math rock... if the mathematician is Euclid on angel dust.

This is less forced, more organic, and better than Death Grips. I'm not going to call them influences but two bands that came to mind while listening to this are The Fall and Gorguts. The Fall is a rhythmic energy connection. Releasing yourself to this music is a lot like releasing yourself to The Fall. It's a very in the moment process. This isn't music that builds on a theme and moves in a logical chromatic way. In this music the present is all there is so don't bother with how you got here or where you're going. Now as for the Gorguts thing. Hill's drumming brings to mind Luc Lemay's guitar work. I encourage any fan of this to check out Obscura. And groan if you want but Hill also owes a tip of the hat to OLD, especially considering the time stamps.

Hill is a ****ing fantastic drummer and he's not holding back. Appreciation for the technical offers fans another avenue for enjoyment but this is in no way easy music. I will definitely return to this. I'm saying 8/10 as a placeholder until I get to know this better. Fantastic record.

**Frownland** · 03-06-2017, 06:35 AM

Zach Hill has a condition that makes him explode if he goes for more than five seconds without doing a fill.

OccultHawk · 03-06-2017, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Zach Hill has a condition that makes him explode if he goes for more than five seconds without doing a fill.

I was actually thinking I like the way he sticks with the beat on this record.

grindy · 03-06-2017, 11:38 AM

If I remember correctly, there are some tracks with vocals on Face Tat that kinda ruin it for me.
This is the **** though:

Psy-Fi · 03-07-2017, 12:25 PM

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Noisy drumming & percussion along with distorted vocals and some techno type sounds.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Didn't care for it.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Slightly more interesting.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Didn't mind the vocalist but didn't like the distorted lo-fi sound the vocals had.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
It was OK but nothing special.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
Better but not by a lot until the last track which I thought was the best by far.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Unintelligible.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Some parts were OK and some didn't do anything for me.

9. What did you think of the production?
I thought the lo-fi sound of the vocals ruined the album for the most part.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Had heard of the artist but didn't know anything about him musically prior to hearing this album.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
No.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Listened twice. My opinion didn't change one way or the other after the second listen.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
The last track "second life" stood out for me. If more of the album had sounded like that, I probably would've been much more into it and rated it much higher.

14. And the one you liked least?
Nothing stood out as being particularly awful.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
N/A

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I might check out some more, out of curiosity, but if it sounds similar to this I won't be coming back to this artist.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Didn't have any idea what it might sound like prior, so I didn't know how I was going to react to it.

18. Did the album end well?
Yes. The last track was by far my favorite on the album.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Get rid of the distorted, lo-fi sounding vocals and tone down the overall noisy sound of the production.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
It sounded cohesive for the most part. The last track sounded a bit out of place compared to the rest.

4/10

OccultHawk · 03-07-2017, 12:35 PM

Psy-Fi

What do you make of my thought that lo-fi vocals are a musical equivalent to the rough around the edges writing style of Bukowski?

Trollheart · 03-07-2017, 05:54 PM

Okay, I think I've about got the measure of this album now. I've listened to it four times and I don't care to listen to it a fifth, so let's do this thing.
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Holy Good **** what is that racket??

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Messed up as Hell. No idea what was going on.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Not much better. Had hoped it might settle down a bit. It didn't.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
Nah, not for me. Didn't like the vocals here (what I could make out of them)

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
When it settled down occasionally, yes, it could sound ok, but generally it was way too chaotic.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Slightly better but not much

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Could make out no lyrics

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
Pretty much no.

9. What did you think of the production?
Meh

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No, other than I looked him up and he is or was the drummer with Death Grips, who not only are hip-hop, but for me, the worst kind of hip-hop: experimental hip-hop. My heart sunk when I read he was a drummer. This things often do not end well.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Not unless you see Satan skating by on his way to work, no.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Pretty much the same. Realised after the fourth try it would never “grow on” me and I would get nothing more out of it.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Maybe “Burner in the video”. I'd agree that the closer was pretty good too but that's about it.

14. And the one you liked least?
All the others; they just blended into one mess for me.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
N/a

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Not while there's breath in my perfectly-formed body, no.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Not surprised as such no.

18. Did the album end well?
Actually, it did.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Be a bit less choppy and all over the place. I feel there were good ideas in there but for me they got lost in the mix. I'm sure the guy is a good musician but I couldn't get what he was trying to do.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Hit and miss. Mostly miss.

I shrug my shoulders and say Meh. I'd give it 2/10.

03-05-2017, 02:26 PM	#301 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Thanks Batty: we're all done now. On to number three! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2017, 06:35 AM	#305 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Zach Hill has a condition that makes him explode if he goes for more than five seconds without doing a fill. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

03-06-2017, 11:38 AM	#307 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	If I remember correctly, there are some tracks with vocals on Face Tat that kinda ruin it for me. This is the ** though: __________________ A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.**

03-07-2017, 05:54 PM	#310 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Okay, I think I've about got the measure of this album now. I've listened to it four times and I don't care to listen to it a fifth, so let's do this thing. 1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? Holy Good ** what is that racket?? 2. What did you think of the opening track? Messed up as Hell. No idea what was going on. 3. What did you think of the next track? Not much better. Had hoped it might settle down a bit. It didn't. 4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1) Nah, not for me. Didn't like the vocals here (what I could make out of them) 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2) When it settled down occasionally, yes, it could sound ok, but generally it was way too chaotic. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? Slightly better but not much 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? Could make out no lyrics 8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3) Pretty much no. 9. What did you think of the production? Meh 10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album? No, other than I looked him up and he is or was the drummer with Death Grips, who not only are hip-hop, but for me, the worst kind of hip-hop: experimental hip-hop. My heart sunk when I read he was a drummer. This things often do not end well. 11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not? Not unless you see Satan skating by on his way to work, no. 12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less? Pretty much the same. Realised after the fourth try it would never “grow on” me and I would get nothing more out of it. 13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? Maybe “Burner in the video”. I'd agree that the closer was pretty good too but that's about it. 14. And the one you liked least? All the others; they just blended into one mess for me. 15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4) N/a 16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material? Not while there's breath in my perfectly-formed body, no. 17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album? Not surprised as such no. 18. Did the album end well? Actually, it did. 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Be a bit less choppy and all over the place. I feel there were good ideas in there but for me they got lost in the mix. I'm sure the guy is a good musician but I couldn't get what he was trying to do. 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?** Hit and miss. Mostly miss. I shrug my shoulders and say Meh. I'd give it 2/10. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2017, 03:41 AM	#304 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Review of Face Tat There's playing outside the box and then there's playing like there is no box. This might be math rock... if the mathematician is Euclid on angel dust. This is less forced, more organic, and better than Death Grips. I'm not going to call them influences but two bands that came to mind while listening to this are The Fall and Gorguts. The Fall is a rhythmic energy connection. Releasing yourself to this music is a lot like releasing yourself to The Fall. It's a very in the moment process. This isn't music that builds on a theme and moves in a logical chromatic way. In this music the present is all there is so don't bother with how you got here or where you're going. Now as for the Gorguts thing. Hill's drumming brings to mind Luc Lemay's guitar work. I encourage any fan of this to check out Obscura. And groan if you want but Hill also owes a tip of the hat to OLD, especially considering the time stamps. Hill is a ****ing fantastic drummer and he's not holding back. Appreciation for the technical offers fans another avenue for enjoyment but this is in no way easy music. I will definitely return to this. I'm saying 8/10 as a placeholder until I get to know this better. Fantastic record.

03-07-2017, 12:35 PM	#309 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Psy-Fi What do you make of my thought that lo-fi vocals are a musical equivalent to the rough around the edges writing style of Bukowski?