The return of the "What are you listening to now?" thread

[the captain]

The Shins' 2007 album Wincing the Night Away, for the first time in probably five or six years.

A few things occurred to me. First, it's better than I remember it. I was very disappointed in it upon its release, feeling it was both substantially worse, song-wise, than its excellent predecessor, Chutes Too Narrow, but also an unfortunate sonic departure.

But second (and relevant), it's not really much of a sonic departure. As was the case in the reporting of albums like Kid A and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot upon their releases, history shows them as more in line with their creators' tendencies than was initially thought. Wincing now sounds just like a typical Shins album with a few examples of programmed synth added in. Really, the entire Shins catalog sounds pretty much of a piece.

[undercover-m]

Wincing the Night Away is one of my favorite albums... from the Shins, or from anyone, really.

Yeah, the Shins' early stuff is different than their last two albums. But it's a wonderful album to get into. Mercer's lyrics are top-notch on this album, and I love the way some songs transition into each other. I think I like the A-side better, too, although Turn On Me is such a beautiful song (with a weird music video...). Something about this album cheers me up, no matter what mood I'm in.

Have you heard their first album, when they were called Flake music and not the Shins? You seem pretty music savvy, so maybe you have , but that's a fun album.

[the captain]

Have you heard their first album, when they were called Flake music and not the Shins? You seem pretty music savvy, so maybe you have , but that's a fun album.

Yes. I wasn't aware of it in 1997, but I sought it out after getting into the Shins. It's OK. Sounds like what it is: an early album by someone who doesn't quite have it all together yet. Not as well crafted as their later work, to say the least, but you can hear them in there. It's more historical artifact than album for me, though. (That sounds like a shitty thing to say, but I don't mean it as an insult. Just the nature of the thing.)

[undercover-m]

Yeah, it's not the greatest album of 1997 or anything, and I totally get what you mean. I mean, the early/demo years of a band tend to be that way.

I'm currently listening to Angel Olsen's Burn Your Fire for No Witness. My friend is in love with her. Also I must commend her for performing at the show I went to: the wind was knocking everything over and she was still singing through her wind-tossled hair.

[the captain]

I'm currently listening to Angel Olsen's Burn Your Fire for No Witness. My friend is in love with her. Also I must commend her for performing at the show I went to: the wind was knocking everything over and she was still singing through her wind-tossled hair.

There were about four songs off that album I really liked. Pretty good album overall.

[JK]

Great "music while you work" from a most unusual source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpSI0zIDas

[shangaijoeBB]

THE APPLETREE THEATRE - PLAYBACK (1968)

Any other fan here of this amazing album? John Lennon said it was one of his favorite albums back in 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwdk5C3d97M

[JK]

THE APPLETREE THEATRE - PLAYBACK (1968)

Any other fan here of this amazing album? John Lennon said it was one of his favorite albums back in 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwdk5C3d97M

H'mm. I must investigate it further. I've linked it for bedtime listening. Thanks for the tip. :=)

[undercover-m]

I'm currently listening to Angel Olsen's Burn Your Fire for No Witness. My friend is in love with her. Also I must commend her for performing at the show I went to: the wind was knocking everything over and she was still singing through her wind-tossled hair.

There were about four songs off that album I really liked. Pretty good album overall.

Yeah, I like Forgiven/Forgotten and Hi-Five.


I've kinda listened to White Denim in the past, but now I'm actually listening to their albums all the way through.

[halblaineisgood]

The vers. of Christian Life w/ the Gram Parsons vocal. Really like that one.

[undercover-m]

I'm actually in love with them right now.

[JK]

THE APPLETREE THEATRE - PLAYBACK (1968)

Any other fan here of this amazing album? John Lennon said it was one of his favorite albums back in 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwdk5C3d97M

H'mm. I must investigate it further. I've linked it for bedtime listening. Thanks for the tip. :=)

Great little album, SJBB. Some astonishing musicians in the lineup----and it shows. :=) 

[undercover-m]

Saint Motel's Voyeur. The same band responsible for "My Type," which is overplayed but still a fantastic single. Seeing them in concert today. I'm stoked.
Sad, though, I bought this LP a year or so ago but there's a scratch on the first song .

[Mike's Beard]

A great album that shows the guy has spent a lot of time listening to Brian Wilson. There is a 'Sunflower' like vibe on much of this. I know Bruce guested on later albums and I think I hear his vocals on this.

[alf wiedersehen]

"Seasons" is an amazing song, but I just can't really get into anything else I've heard.

[JK]

"Seasons" is an amazing song, but I just can't really get into anything else I've heard.

I've only heard it once all the way through, so I'm still out on it.

The first track of theirs that I heard was the album's closer, at Glastonbury (on TV).

To be continued...

[Summertime Blooz]

THE APPLETREE THEATRE - PLAYBACK (1968)

Any other fan here of this amazing album? John Lennon said it was one of his favorite albums back in 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwdk5C3d97M

Well, now I know better than to get tips from John Lennon. I guess it's passable, but ridiculously pretentious and dated, and not in a good way. John Boylan enjoyed a long and successful career as a record producer, most notably being involved with the first Boston album. Brother Terrence had an unsuccessful sporadic solo recording career.

[Summertime Blooz]

A great album that shows the guy has spent a lot of time listening to Brian Wilson. There is a 'Sunflower' like vibe on much of this. I know Bruce guested on later albums and I think I hear his vocals on this.

Oh yeah- the Beach Boys style harmonies are all over this album. Carmen was a really good pop songwriter too. All Beach Boys fans (everybody here I guess?) should check this one out- it's a gem.

[undercover-m]

Particularly "Nancy From Now On." I'm also more familiar with this than his newest.

[Mike's Beard]

A great album that shows the guy has spent a lot of time listening to Brian Wilson. There is a 'Sunflower' like vibe on much of this. I know Bruce guested on later albums and I think I hear his vocals on this.

Oh yeah- the Beach Boys style harmonies are all over this album. Carmen was a really good pop songwriter too. All Beach Boys fans (everybody here I guess?) should check this one out- it's a gem.

The follow up Boats Against the Current may be even better, shame the drop off was pretty rapid after that.

[the captain]

I haven't dedicated sufficient time to the albums to say much about them, but I can say that when I heard of the BBs connection on "Hey Deanie" and "She Did It," I bought and was wowed by those tracks. Some Eric Carmen is a bit too sentimental for me, but I am a big fan of some Raspberries stuff and think it's worth revisiting his solo albums to make sure I wasn't blowing them off.

[Summertime Blooz]

I haven't dedicated sufficient time to the albums to say much about them, but I can say that when I heard of the BBs connection on "Hey Deanie" and "She Did It," I bought and was wowed by those tracks. Some Eric Carmen is a bit too sentimental for me, but I am a big fan of some Raspberries stuff and think it's worth revisiting his solo albums to make sure I wasn't blowing them off.

The first album is the only worthy thing he did as a solo. Totally jumped the shark after that but for a few stray tracks like Hey Deanie and She Did It. All four Raspberries albums are completely awesome in my book though. Their debut was the first album I ever bought because of Go All the Way. Last time I held it, the album jacket still had a raspberry smell.

[JK]

This album never ceases to astonish
(click on image for details)...

[Mike's Beard]

This.


Been spinning this a lot recently. Donald Fagan may be a smug twat but he sure does make brilliant music.

[Mike's Beard]

One of the few 60s icons not to make a fool of himself in the 1980s. In fact, I think this is one of his best records.