Euronomus

OK so I just finished listening to this for the third time and I have really mixed feelings about it. First off let me say that this wasn't my first attempt at getting in to Jandek, I've previously checked out two of his other albums and found them to be pretty unlistenable-to the point of not being able to make it more than a couple of songs in before giving up and deleting them. i went in expecting more of the same and was pleasantly surprised to find myself at least somewhat enjoying the experience(not to mention being able to actually finish the album multiple times). Generally I think there is a fine line between making difficult experimental music and laziness\lack of ability, and I think this album straddles that line pretty precariously. There are times when it feels like someone just handed this guy a guitar for the first time and he's just making it up sloppily along the way, but just when it starts to wear me down he starts in on something interesting that pulls me back in.

This albums definite strength is it's overall mood, it's so claustrophobic and oppressive and I love music that portrays strong emotions. While his vocals are the the main source of the emotion here there is no denying that the guitar adds to the eeriness and it wouldn't have the same impact with more traditional guitar work. The real weakness of it is not necessarily the length but that all of the songs blend together without any deviation in sound, meter, or key(not sure they really have a key though, but you get my point lol) and it's just to long for that to work. The album would have been a great 4-6 song ep, but as-is it's a pretty fatiguing listen. Overall it's pretty good for "artsy" music but not great. I won't listen to it through again but I will leave it on my computer and throw it Onto my shuffle list. so I'd probably give it a 6/10.

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Unicr0n

This was not the first Jandek album I ever heard. That honor goes to 2003's 'The Place', and subsequently that album has had a HUGE impact on my life, in a variety of ways. But I'll save rambling about that album for another day.

'Ready For the House' was originally attributed to The Units. Only later was it revealed to be the work of a lone man, although just listening to it would have kind of clued a person in on that fact. It's a very stark piece of music. Just vocals and an acoustic guitar played in what seems like a rather haphazard fashion. But if you're patient and persistent, the themes start to take hold. The feelings of isolation and despair. The sound of a man desperate for some kind of attention from someone.

I love this album, always have. It's not one of my all-time favorites, nor is it even one of my favorite Jandek releases, but there's just something about it...there's a character to it. Maybe because it was his first release and his style is just SO different from anything else out there. It's definitely not the sort of thing that someone puts on in the background and you don't take notice of. Once 'Naked in the Afternoon' starts, you're listening, even if you don't particularly like it.

I would recommend other albums over this one, for first time Jandek listeners. 'The Place', 'Modern Dances', or maybe 'Telegraph Melts', just for a starts. But it really depends for each individual person. The only universal truth is that most people (myself included) find his spoken word albums pretty difficult to work through.

'Ready For the House' is, in my opinion, a great first release. It definitely sets the pace for the first chunk of Jandek's discography, before he starts wandering into full bands, electric instruments and the like.

Having seen him play live, I can say it's a pretty mystical experience. The man very obviously knows what he's doing with a guitar, even if it doesn't sound like much of any other guitar playing out there. His style is very intentional and deliberate, in fact at times almost mechanical, in the way he plays. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when he recorded this album, just for curiosities sake.

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Go ahead, pick apart my tastes. I know you want to.

Howard the Duck

1) What are this albums' strengths?

you know, i am never at all a fan of the ultra-hipster circles that praise stuff like this, if it's bad music, it's just bad music - it sorta reminds me of one of my insanity episodes, when i just played on three out-of-tune strings on the guitar and sang in a weird vibrato about Chinese demons

however, saying that, though, there is a mood evoked by these songs, sort of a haunting creepiness that i like somewhat

2) What are its weaknessess?

all songs sound nearly the same, except for the last

3) How does it compare to the artist's other work?

i generally prefer the funk-rock stuff he did with a band, at least that has some semblance of "proficiency"

4) Favourite songs?

European Jewel (Incomplete) - at least that sounds like a "proper" song

5) What feelings did this album evoke?

dread, despair

6) How does this album fit into your regular rotation?

don't like it much, so probably never

7) What stood out to you about this album's themes, musically/lyrically?

it's just a lot of stream of consciousness nonsense, and not even poetic like Dylan's mid-60s rambles

8) If you've had any noteworthy experiences with this album, what have they been?

i am already not feeling well, this just made me more depressed, i think i'll take it off in a while

9) What do you know about this album's creation? Any interesting facts or anecdotes?

that it was done by a band, later it was only a sole man

10) How does this album represent the chosen theme?

it'd put me off subsequent releases

11) How does this album compare to other albums nominated for this theme?

definitely like Beefheart over this, and love Red Krayola, dislike this, but not intensely

12) How does this album compare to others in its genre?

closest i can think are Daniel Johnston's home demos, which have a certain charm, this one is just depressing

13) Can you recommend similar albums to this?

Hello, How Are You? - Daniel Johnston

14) What does this album's artwork say about it? Is it well paired with the music?

no, i expect some grandiose statement from the music

15) Is this a strong debut? Would this artist have benefited if they' debuted with a different album in their discography?

go with the funk rock, dear Mr, Jandek

16) How does this album compare to this artist's remaining work?

his funk rock is good

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Paedantic Basterd

THEME POLL is UP FOR VOTING.

Hey guys! I'd like to probe you for your opinions a little bit. The Club is just shy of a year old, and still looking pretty good. What is it about this club that appeals to you? Why is it a success? What more can be done to improve it?

If we can take those elements and apply them to the genre clubs in the subforums, would you be interested in participating, or do the genre clubs fail because there isn't enough activity in their subforums?

Thanks!

Chrysalis

I just finished listening to Ready for the House, and I think that it's alright. I like Jandek's voice on here, but, with the exception of European Jewel, all of the songs sound the same. I would be fine with this for 2 or 3 tracks, but 40 minutes of it gets tiring.

At least it was better than I thought that it would be.

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RateYourMusic
A dead Last.fm account

Paedantic Basterd

My god.

I feel really bad about what I'm going to say next, because I know Unicr0n is a huge fan of Jandek's work, so I will preface it with a positive note about the desolate, eerie mood the album evokes: I appreciate that.

However, it is one of the most repetitive, and thus dull albums I've ever listened to, and from the third track onwards, I was just kind of waiting for it to come to an end. Even forty minutes of Steve Reich's "do-DO-do-DO" alternating between instruments on Different Trains didn't exhaust me as much as this album has.

I'm sorry for being quite cruel to this release, but it is not capable of holding my attention, and thus strains my patience. I wouldn't swear off his discography based on this release, but it will be some months before I attempt another album. As far as creepy experimental spoken word albums go, I'd recommend Scott Walker, either Tilt or The Drift as opposed to this.

Unicr0n

Hah, there's no reason to feel BAD. It's not like my feelings are hurt or anything.

I'm aware that I'm probably in the minority in this particular case. And I'm not even gonna make the usual Jandek-fan argument that it's not ~for everyone~, because that's just pretentious pandering.

The album has flaws, I definitely don't deny that. But, at least for me, I find the flaws endearing, and, to an extent, I feel like they actually add to the music.

I could ramble endlessly in defense. But if you find the album boring, or atrocious, or just generally not very good, that's your right. And I respect everyone's opinions equally~~

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Go ahead, pick apart my tastes. I know you want to.

Paedantic Basterd

I'm very protective of my favourite albums, and it makes me sad to hear when people dislike them, so I'm going to feel like a dick when I turn around and slag one off, haha.

Frownland

Well, in Jandek's case, it's pretty easy not to like the music, despise it even. I personally didn't like Jandek and even hated it but a friend kept on reintroducing his work to me, and now I love Jandek, so I'm glad for that. Most definitely an acquired taste.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Paedantic Basterd

The winning theme is ALBUMS THAT HELPED PIONEER A GENRE. Please submit your nominations!