It's a pretty wicked record!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hing_stock.jpg
Talk Talk - Laughing Stock

What I Used to Think:

ಠ_ಠ

I'm not sure if I had ever been more bored in my entire life. There's something powerful about slow tempo songs on occasion, and then there's this album where nothing ever happens. To quote Wikipedia, "the album featured improvised instrumentation from a large ensemble of musicians". Now see, improvised instrumentation can be awesome too, but then there's this album where it's just so boring.

I remember seeing descriptions of this album as Post Rock, which made me gag. Now, there's certainly characteristics, but when I think "Post Rock" I think of build-ups and sweeping crescendos that make the lengthy, slow instrumentation worth it. I never felt that on this album, nor did I ever really feel anything in general. I couldn't understand the vocalist (which is something I generally detest), yet I never felt compelled to even look up what he's saying because he was surrounded by so much uninteresting drivel.

What I Think Now:

Frankly, I'm aware of the high regard people put this album in, and generally I understand why an album is seen in the light that it's seen in. However, I just can't enjoy "Laughing Stock". There are instances of albums like this that I can appreciate the music without enjoying it, but I don't even feel that way here. There's something to be said about when an album feels cohesive, but this one just drones on for a seemingly endless period of time. Hell, there's a 9.5 minute song where the drums never change. That's just not something I can stand, so I'll never see myself liking this album.

Was I Wrong?

Nope. I'd rather listen to...well, anything.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lbum_cover.jpg
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - S/T

Hard to believe this album has been out 8 years now, eh?

What I Used to Think

This album was pretty big when it first came out, being one of the first bands to become popular off of a stellar review by Pitchfork.

Well, I think the reason I hate this band is going to sound different from the other albums I've talked about here. I actually do think these guys make good music. The reason I didn't like it? The lead vocals. I just could not enjoy a band when their vocals are as painfully squeaky as this man's general are. They make it worse by giving him melodies that require him to sing higher and really squeal, like on "Heavy Metal" and "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth". There's certainly some interesting variety to be had here, and a couple of the tracks are quite beautiful ("Blue Turning Gray"...which is coincidentally an instrumental...)

What I Think Now?

Over the years I have grown to appreciate music from other walks of life, so to speak. I have grown to recognize when something is well-written and like it on those merits rather than simply what my ears think.

Subsequently, I find that I enjoy this album more than I used to. I can look past the vocals and recognize that there's some pretty solid musicianship here to be had.

Was I Wrong?

Well, no, because his vocals still are quite bad, and I always thought that the band made good music. I just am more capable of enjoying that good music than before because I can look past those vocals!

I've always enjoyed that CYHSY album, including the vocals. Glad to see you've turned the corner at least somewhat.

This is a great idea for a journal. As Trollheart hinted at, similar themes have been explored by other users here, but that's not important. What I'm interested in is your age, and what you seem to describe as quite a recent exploration of a lot of music. We've had and have younger members than you, and some of them are extremely mature for their age so it will be interesting to see where your taste in music has begun to change.

Good stuff so far. None of these albums particularly mean anything to me so far, so I don't really have much to contribute at this stage, except Downward Spiral is a pretty good record.