Okay, will add to the list. Anyone else any opinion on which one I should do?
Noted thanks. Not looking forward to PIL, so anything that makes it less of an ordeal is welcome.
If youses guys don't decides I'm just gonna flips a coins!

I really want to see Trollheart say something nice about Post-Punk, but I'm convinced giving Metal Box or anything PIL really will just push him in the opposite direction.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ooked_Rain.jpg
Title: Crooked rain, crooked rain
Artiste: Pavement
Year: 1994
Chronological position: Second album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Zero
Why is this considered a classic? Cos Surell says so! ;)

My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Good
One track in --- Good
Halfway through --- Good
Finished --- Good

Comments: There’s been some recent discussion as to which of Pavement’s albums I should listen to, and I can’t say as I have never even heard of them before. But Surell asked me to listen to this one, so I’m honouring that request despite some attempts to change my mind. Nice driving rhythm to start us off with a heavy striding guitar, and the vocal then reminds me of early Bono (shut up) … which gets a little on my nerves rather quickly I must admit. I don’t like “Stop breathin’” much; the sort of off-tune guitar is a little annoying. Mind you, the guitar interlude in the middle is quite nice, and sort of makes up for it. Yeah but then it goes out of tune again. Teeth grinding.

“Newark wilder” is a nice tune, low-key, laidback, sort of like something the Eagles would do in their bluesier moments maybe, nice keys on it. “Unfair”’s good too, lot more energy to it, good riffs, but I don’t know; maybe I’m just getting harder to please. I’m not feeling it here at all. The jazzy Waits-style piano instrumental doesn’t help, though “Range life” does. I really like this one. Definitely my favourite so far. “Heaven is a truck” is pretty good too. Looks like they saved the better material for nearer the end of the album.

Ah, but then “Hit the plane down” is another teeth-grinder, bloody hate it, which leaves us with one more track, thankfully finishing on a high note with a nice lazy almost acoustic ballad.

Favourite track(s): Silence kid, Newark wilder, Range life, Heaven is a truck, Fillmore jive
Least favourite track(s): 5-4=Unity, Gold soundz, Cut your hair, Hit the plane down

Final impression --- At times I didn’t care, at other times it was an ordeal. There were some bright spots but not enough for me to have considered this a positive experience. I wouldn’t say I hated it but I certainly did not love it.

Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?
G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits
H) Glad I listened to it

I think I would have to say E at this point.
http://www.trollheart.com/classic3.png

If I can offer a brief rebuttal to Pet_Sounds:
Eh. All three are sort of different beasts. I think you can easily enjoy Radio City without having heard #1 Record first (although I probably wouldn't listen to Third without having heard the first two).
I disagree - like I said, Radio City rocks harder, plus it's more consistent as an album. It's a little weirder, I guess, but it has their two best straightforward pop-rock songs, "Back of a Car" and "September Gurls", on it.
He's already said he's only listening to one. Therefore priority should be which one he'll most immediately like, and that's Radio City.

(Also, #1 Record has "The India Song", so yeah that's the one bad Big Star song.)

Pere Ubu - Dub Housing maybe?

There's a chance that TH will enjoy the new The Pop Group album Citizen Zombie as well.

The problem here is that this is "classic albums", and no matter what, you can't call an album released this year a classic. Well you can, but it doesn't fit into the framework I have here. Pere Ubu, I don't know: is that a classic album? Are you guy trying to push me towards opening a new journal: "Trollheart does Post Punk"?? :yikes:

I may however take that CZ under the recs thread, when I have time. As Khan told Kirk in Star Trek II: "Time is a luxury you do not have!"

I could see him digging those more than PIL. The Sex Pistols connection will largely be a turn off, and Lydon's voice can be grating even for me.

:laughing:
You keep saying this in almost every journal but you post about 70 entries a week. Give it a month or so and you'll be asking for more recs.

Dub Housing is a classic. So is Y by the Pop Group, but it's even harder to imagine you liking that.

Dub Housing is certainly a classic album.

Oh, now let's not exaggerate! Sixty, tops!
Anyway, I meant now, as I launch into Star Trek Month...

It would be cool to hear your opinion on This Heat's "Deceit" or Slint's "Spiderland." I think you could end up really liking both or you'd just hate them. Really not sure with this rec, but it's worth a listen.

YEsssss he's going pavement.

I'm sorry you didn't like Pet Sounds, Smile Sessions is a trip and I would suggest trying it on - as Pet Sounds pointed out you don't have to listen to all four discs - but it sounds like it wasn't as dreadful as you might have though. It is a pretty slow album, though, the Boys don't jam that hard that often in that era.

I am very pleased to see you dug After the Gold Rush though, it's a terrific album, one I haven't gone back to in awhile but never regret doing so. As Urban said, On the Beach is great too, stranger, but still fairly folky and has some bangers akin to "Southern Man" and "When You Dance..." (one of my personal favorites as well). Everyone has their favorite, but let me put it to you like this: There pretty much isn't an album that Neil released from Everybody Knows This is Nowhere to Rust Never Sleeps that isn't great, although some are stylistically not suited for everyone (Comes a Time, maybe).

Also, since you liked that Antlers so much, and I've always heard such nice things, I'll be checking that soon. A work that moves someone that thoroughly definitely deserves a chance.

Lastly, review Return to the 36 Chambers.

Yours truly,

x___________

Well, as you'll have seen by now, Pavement didn't thrill me (though I didn't hate it). 36 Chambers: that's Wu-Tang Clang innit? Hip-hop? I seriously doubt it: like I said, I'm trying to stick within the basic framework of the genres I know and hip-hop is not one of those.

I think the real question here though is: what happened to Marvin? Where's that avatar??? :eek:

Oh damn somehow I missed it. Damn, I thought you mighta dug that one, Pavement give me a real Neil Young vibe, but then again it's his more hard rock/eccentric stuff, not necessarily his After the Gold Rush types. But you like "Range Life" and that's what really matters. But then you don't like "Gold Soundz" or "Stop Breathin" so we might have to fight. Thank you for checking it though! I consider it a classic of its time, and overall just a great, fun album, but I can actually totally see your qualms with it. Those dudes were basically just the most talented dick arounders around.

No 36 Chambers is a lounge album. ;)

Also I'm being renovated.

I know you very well may not like this album at all, but it's been on my mind so much lately that I just can't not throw it out there just in case: Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops. It's very possibly at least a tad too extreme for you (it's not death metal, black metal, or grindcore though), but I'd still love to hear your thoughts on it. I'm seriously not just trying to harm your ears, I'd just like you to give it a shot as a personal favor to me. There are definitely some harsh vocals -- though never full on death metal growls -- but there is at least legitimately clean singing throughout much of the album.

Hey now, there are like fifty albums that I'd love to hear TH's thoughts on. Buzz off batty

Suck it, ****.

Already did it as someone's selection (Mondo? Frown? Not sure) in Metal Month II. Hated the life out of it. I'll link you if you want.
Throw some my way. Not fifty. But some.

Sure. Pussy.

Okay, I'm going to throw another post-punk classic at you but one very different from all the other suggestions, and one you could actually like. Orange Juice's Rip It Up. It's fun and poppy, and a lot more conventional than some of the more harsh stuff.
Have you listened to much Talking Heads?

Here you go. Expect the usual Trollheart wimp-out...
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1499451
(I was right; it was Mondo)
I'll add it. TH I've heard one or two albums, mostly though what they had in the charts, mostly off Little creatures and such. I did like what I heard though. I think I have Remain in light on the list...

Nice one! I look forward to you getting to Remain In Light, one of my favourite albums.

I'd say you're dead to me, but what's the point.

Got another for ya...
The Jam - All Mod Cons

ftfy
Oh man I hated the Jam when I were a lad. But you know, maybe I was just being a stuck-in-the-mud metalhead, so yeah, ok, I'll give it a go.

I doubt if you'll like them now and I know that album very well and even have it on vinyl, even though now I don't much care for the band.

I didn't use a question mark because it wasn't really a question.

How about The Cars? The eponymous debut is their "best".

Well I've heard some of the Cars' material, but not all their albums all the way through. I have everything from them but I've only really listened to Heartbeat City, Door to door and the poor and disappointing comeback album Move like this. I loved Ben Orr's solo album though, and did a feature a few years back on Rik Ocasek. Is the debut considered a classic? I'll think about it certainly.

My personal favourites are Candy-O and Heartbeat City, but the debut is an essential and classic New Wave album.

I'm shocked at you I thought you knew their whole discography. Their debut is considered "The American New-Wave classic" by a number of sources, something I completely agree with, the b-side of that album is simply timeless.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-_The_Cars.jpg
Title: The Cars
Artiste: The Cars
Year: 1978
Chronological position: Debut album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Heartbeat City, Door to door, Move like this plus the Greatest Hits compilation
Why is this considered a classic? Their greatest hits were on it, it introduced the world to the band and a new sound, and it sold over a million copies within a year.

My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great
One track in --- Great
Halfway through --- Great
Finished --- Great

Comments: Well even though Unknown Soldier wants to disown me and tar and feather me for not having heard this album, I have heard most of it through the compilations and singles, so tracks like “My best friend's girlfriend”, “Just what I needed” and Good times roll” are all well known and liked by me. Love the Queen-like chorus on the opener, possibly thanks to their producer having come from working with that band earlier. Funnily enough, they're described as a new-wave band; I would never have thought that. To me they were just an AOR or rock act. I guess the amount of synthesisers and effects contributed to that tag. Still, I wouldn't have put them in the same arena as Cabaret Voltaire, Flock of Seagulls or any of that lot.

I do however agree with the sleeve being very annoying; that woman couldn't close her stupid mouth? She looks like a cartoon, or as if she's totally high. Meh. I find the quality suddenly dipping though when “I'm in touch with your world” hits; it's just such a comedown after three powerful tracks. Maybe it was too much to expect that everything would be of the same calibre, but still, a bit disappointing that it dips so early. Perhaps it's just a blip. Well, “Dont'cha stop” sounds a bit like Martha and the Muffins' “Echo beach”, but it's a hell of a better song than the previous as it gets the tempo kicking again. As does “You're all I've got tonight”, really rocks along and again you can hear the Queen influence there but not so much that it seems like the Cars are ripping Freddie and Co. off.

“Bye bye love” is okay but I feel it's again lacking something, but “Moving in stereo” gets us back on track; kind of a dark, grindy feel to it with some cool effects. Probably the closest I would say they come to what I would think of as new wave. Closer then is another good rocker, kind of mid-paced and “All mixed up” takes us to the finish line. Interesting, and perhaps a brave decision, not to have a single ballad on the album. I know they made hits out of ballads later, so the fact that this album sold so well without one is quite impressive.

Favourite track(s): Good times roll, My best friend's girlfriend, Just what I needed, You're all I've got tonight, Moving in stereo, All mixed up
Least favourite track(s): I'm in touch with your world

Final impression --- I think the Cars were very lucky in that they had two ready-made, but entirely different, singers in Ben Orr and Ric Ocasek, Now there's only one of course, but back then you could get a great mix from the two of them swapping vocal duties. A great debut and it certainly pointed the way towards the bright lights that would eventually lead The Cars to their destination, Heartbeat City.

[i]Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?
G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits
H) Glad I listened to it

That's a H I think and I rate it
http://www.trollheart.com/classic4.png

As you quite like it I won't now.

Obviously not enough as it was 'girl' and not 'girlfriend'.

Well its the perfect example of an American new wave record at that time along with the likes of Blondie, the Knack, Television and Devo. Some of those bands leaned more towards punk and other more to electronic music and the Cars I'd say were smack bang in the middle of those two styles. Now a Flock of Seagulls I'd put as a 'second wave new-wave' band as they came along later. But I can see the AOR appeal as it fits into with what an AOR fan would like to hear on an album.

The album cover is iconic Cars and the type of album cover that they wanted, it displays the playful fun of the band for this album, even though they were always a band of darker undertones.

That's the weakest track on the album.

Btw I think the b-side of that album is stronger than the a-side.

[pedant]Now I know how people feel about me pointing out little errors! [/pedant]:banghead:


It was a surprise to me, as I always considered the cars AOr or even pop/rock. I guess I don't know enough about New Wave...

Unlike many of The Cars' album covers, the cover for The Cars was designed by the record company, rather than drummer David Robinson.[2] The cover was not well liked by the members of the band, however.[2] Robinson said, "I thought that when the Elektra came out it was way too slick. The pictures of us I didn't like."[2] Guitarist Elliot Easton expressed dislike for "that big grinning face," saying, "Man, I got tired of that cover."

Ah, The Cars are another band I have to get into. They were apparently a huge influence on Weezer (one of my personal favorite bands) and in fact Ocasek produced three of their best albums.

I know most the singles and dig those, so would the debut be a good place to start?

Definitely. Have you heard Weezer's cover of "You Might Think"?

I've heard snippets, but not the full version as of yet. Love the original though.

It's worth mentioning that the band hated having Roy Thomas Baker to produce the album, afterwards though they changed their opinion.

Unlike Trollheart start with their debut album. ;)

It's ok but it lacks Ocasek's hiccup voice.

Catherine Wheel - Chrome or Ferment?

Classic shoegaze/alternative rock albums. I think you would like both of them.