Top vs Spiro - 100 Album Challenge

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 9th, 2016, 11:18 pm

Day 17
Closure In Moscow's First Temple

Enjoyed Pink Lemonade a lot.

Pros:
- Was less dance inspired than Pink Lemonade. More of a pop-rock feel.
- Panic! meets The Volta meets Dredg
- Once again, the guitar and drums are outstanding.

Cons:
- The second half was so much slower. Much less energy.
- The drums production sounded...fake.
- Dude sounds like a second hand Cedric Bixler.

Highlight: Kissing Cousins and Afterbirth

Wasn't as good as PL, imo. The album add a whole just want as cohesive. The first half all sounded similar, and so did the second. It wasn't bad, but failed to grab me like PL

Overall Score: 6/10

Coming up next...
Day 18
Portishead's Third and Death Cab for Cutie's Plans

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 10th, 2016, 8:25 pm

Day 18
Death Cab for Cutie's Plans

Enjoyed the first go'round with Death Cab in the chart. Some of these songs titles look familiar.

Pros:
- This album is what I remember Death Cab being. Much pop. In a good way. Solidly accessible songs. It made me think at one point, "Man, when it comes down to it, pop is the best of genres."
- The instruments complimented each other very well. Solid rhythm section. Great keys/production.
- Vocals were great. Almost McCartney-esque ("Different Names for the Same Thing", etc.)
- I knew some of the singles. "Soul Meets Body" has a pleasantly weird beat. "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" is kinda meh, though...cute lyrics, but otherwise kinda meh.

Cons:
- The guitar wasn't as prominent on this album as it was the other, which is fine, but when it was there, it just wasnt as good on this album.
- Interesting lyrical themes, but a little wordy sometimes.
- The middle got a tad boring. "Your Heart Is An Empty Room" and "Crooked Teeth " Jat seemed a little generic.

Highlight: "Summer Skin" had a great bass line and beat. The piano really added a lot even with how subtle it is. The sound manipulation, however, makes the song.

Overall Score: 7.5/10

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 10th, 2016, 9:00 pm

Day 18
Portishead - Third

I've heard of these guys but never listened to anything by them. I THINK they're electronic something? HERE GOES

Pros:
- Love the dark atmosphere coupled with the female vocals. Reminded me a lot of St Vincent, Bjork, and certain Massive Attack tracks.
- There was almost a classic psych rock vibe on tracks like "Small"
- Just really interesting. I don't know how else to put it in words... interesting instrumentation, a super cool vibe... It reminded me of Amnesiac a lot so I may grow to really like this one after I delve into it more.
- Some tracks had this really unnerving violin just singing in the background which I liked. It reminded me of Timber Timbre.

Cons:
- The sudden stops on a handful of the tracks threw me for a loop, but this may grow into something I like like on The Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
- I was kind of hoping the closing track would have a bit of a more dramatic flourish... there was that strange bass bwaaaaah and then it just kind of ended leaving me wanting.

Highlight: "Silence"... When the violin comes in about 45 seconds in... I was just really digging the vibe and knew I was going to really like this album.

This is my kind of darkness... probably the strongest first impression any of the albums from your charts have given me yet.

Overall Score: 8.5/10

Coming up next...
Day 19
Panic! At The Disco's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out and Radiohead's The Bends

Applequest · **Posted:** October 10th, 2016, 9:08 pm

I love Soul Meets Body and I think it is the only Death Cab song I know lol.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 10th, 2016, 9:17 pm

Applequest wrote:

I love Soul Meets Body and I think it is the only Death Cab song I know lol.

Well if you like Soul Meets Body you'll probably like Plans as a whole. It's definitely their poppiest album and a great entry point; it's how I got into them. My personal favourites are Transatlanticism (2003), Plans (2005), and Narrow Stairs (2008), but many fans prefer their work from before that such as We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes (2000), which is definitely uh... indier?

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 11th, 2016, 12:20 am

Topsummoner wrote:

Applequest wrote:

I love Soul Meets Body and I think it is the only Death Cab song I know lol.

Well if you like Soul Meets Body you'll probably like Plans as a whole. It's definitely their poppiest album and a great entry point; it's how I got into them. My personal favourites are Transatlanticism (2003), Plans (2005), and Narrow Stairs (2008), but many fans prefer their work from before that such as We Have The Facts And We're Voting Yes (2000), which is definitely uh... indier?

Yeah, Transatlanticism was not what I was expecting from a Death Cab album Plans definitely was. It's pop for sure. Good pop. Check this one out, Apple.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 11th, 2016, 11:37 am

Day 19
Panic! At The Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

I'm very familiar with this album, but it fell out of favor with me a couple years back. It's been a while since I've heard it in full so this'll be interesting and nostalgic. Here goes.

Pros:
- The production is very crisp, and for a pop album it's about as good as it could be.
- Most of the songs are catchy as hell.
- Pulling off a signifigant stylistic change halfway through the album is definitely difficult and worthy of respect. "Intermission" works great as a bridge between the two, and the piano interlude is one of my favourite moments on the album.
- Brendon's got a unique sound to his voice that makes the band immediately recognizable.
- The comically long song titles are hilarious.
- There's interesting instrumentation that separates Panic! from just coming across as a Fall Out Boy clone, the most striking example being the organ and horns on "Tables"

Cons:
- There's a lot of spots where it's just... incredibly lyrically weak, and I hate to say it, immature. Songs like "Matyrdom" and "Lying Is" get about halfway into developing an idea only to drop it in favor of repeating the chorus or the first verse again. Lots of stuff feels like it's for shock value too... this could just be my distaste for the culture represented in these songs shining through.
- Quite comically I found a few times Panic! ought to have taken their own advice a few times on this album. "So gentlemen, if you are going to preach, for God sakes preach with conviction!" This is absolutely hilarious due to how insincere so much of this album comes across as, and how unengaging Brendon's vocals are on the track in question ("Esteban") and several others.
- I've always found the second half far better than the first, and while I felt the gap closed this time around as my opinion of "Sins" and "Esteban" has dropped signifigantly.... I'd still rather listen to the album from "Intermission" on to the end than the whole thing and treat it as an EP.

Highlight: "There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered..." I was kind of surprised to find this was still my favourite track on the album, but so it goes. I love the organ bits on it, the horn section breakdown towards the end, Brendon actually sounds enthusiastic for the whole track, and IT ACTUALLY FINISHES TELLING ITS STORY.

I don't know whether it's my better headphones, developed music listening skills, or a combination of both, but many of these songs sounded better than I remembered them. Lots of background details in the production I didn't remember being there, particularly on the first half. But ultimately the album still leaves the bad taste in my mouth that made me drop it originally... I can't shake this feeling of fabrication surrounding it.

Overall Score: 6.5

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 11th, 2016, 1:12 pm

I agree with your final thoughts. It is music put into the machine of uber-production and spit out to be the danciest, popiest and most sung-along-with album of the era. Normally I would hate this sort of thing, but for some reason, it's just so polished that I can't help but to call it musically perfect every step of the way.

I think the lyrical themes are pretty tongue in cheek, man, and not to be taken seriously. If anything, I would think it's a chastising of the culture represented in the songs. Multiple references to an individual caught in the fast life (sex, drugs, glamour, etc.) are meant to glorify, but call attention to the excess of it. I dunno. That's just a personal interpretation.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 11th, 2016, 2:39 pm

It comes across as chastising yet hypocritical. Given the work Ryan Ross wrote after this point much of Fever was probably tongue in cheek, but having seen Brendon live just a few months ago, and it definitely doesn't come across that way from him.

Either way the band doesn't practice what they preach on the album.

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 12th, 2016, 5:23 am

Day 19
Radiohead's The Bends

I know it well. Always enjoyed the songs, but not the production.

Pros:
- 90's Rock and Roll at it's finest.
- All the building blocks for OK Computer make an appearance here. Every instrument and Thom's voice, at some point, foreshadows it's future self. "My Iron Lung", especially.
- The song writing is just great, in a somehow completely British way. "Bones" is solid throughout.
- Radiohead. Thom's voice, the guitars, the bass, the drums: all on point. In this album, they all seem to find themselves and lock into their instruments and sound.
- The latter half of the album is just a great segway into OKC.

Cons:
- Production. I've always liked these songs better on Radiohead: The Astoria London Live. Radiohead have done this to me twice. I think the production on From the Basement is much better than TKoL as well, and I prefer those avenues of listening.
- The notes. They don't quite have those signature Radiohead chords down, yet. Some of the choruses, especially the distorted ones come across as generic.

Highlight:
"Street Spirit (Fade Out)" is such a great end to the album, and segway into OKC. Thom's vocals are my favorite on the album, and the backing vocals at the end are great, too.

Overall Score: 6.75/10

A must if running through Radiohead's best, but honestly, I don't visit this album very often.

Day 20
My Epic's Yet and Radiohead's OK Computer

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 12th, 2016, 9:21 pm

Day 20
Radiohead's OK Computer

Probably the Radiohead album I am most familiar with. This is the 1st I listened to in full. I really dug "Karma Police" on NOW #1 which helped me recognize "Paranoid Android" as being by the same band. Man, was this a find in the late '90s...right before Nu Metal took over for a few years.

Pros:
- Great production compared to The Bends. Rawer. Closer to the production on Pablo Honey.
- This is the album that Radiohead arrived, IMO. They did it. They found their favorite chords, Thom mastered his vocals, they realized electronics existed and Phil realized he knew how to imitate a drum machine on an acoustic kit.
- "Paranoid Android" is, like, 3 songs in one and it kills.
- They start using synth and it's revolutionary to their sound. "Exit Music (For A Film)" & "Climbing Up the Walls", have some fantastically dirty synth lines.
- There is so much atmosphere and well filled space in even the down tempo songs. Their experimentation with effect pedals goes further up and further in on this album.
- Even the straight rock songs are well written. "Electioneering" has that cowbell banging away in the background, and it totally works.
- Certain songs even have a Floyd feel ("Lucky" for example, the lead guitat and backing vocals).

Cons:
- "Fitter Happier" just sucks, IMO. Even back in the day, when the talking computer was closer to novelty, it did nothing for me. Fits the theme, but seems like filler. Unnecessary filler. Thus isn't a short album.
- I think they should have thrown "Airbag" in the middle somewhere (or in place of "Fitter Happier", maybe?). It's sort of a weak opener. "PA" would have been a much better opening track.

Highlight:
"Climbing Up the Walls" is just super cool. The synth. The effects on Thom's voice, the strings line, the dissonant guitar. It all fits together so well. And that scream at the end after the heavier climactic instrumental...perfect.

Overall Score: 9/10

Man, it had been a while. What a fantastic album.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 13th, 2016, 5:41 pm

Day 20
My Epic - Yet

Not a clue, here goes!

Pros:
- Just niiiiice sounding throughout. Energenic instruments, lovely vocal harmonies, lots of buildups and payoffs. I was engaged almost start to finish.
- Really liked the drums throughout "Patience and Silence"
- Got a bit of a The Dear Hunter vibe from it musically at times.
- Great openers and closers.

Cons:
- Nothing really stuck out lyrically but I may just need to hear it more.

Highlight: Pour. That moment around 3 minutes where it sounds like the song is over and then suddenly the drums kick back in and the guitars start laying down this sweet texture. Loved it.

Great listen. I kind of struggled to write about it though, pros and cons.

Overall Score: 8/10

Coming up next...
Day 21
Marcy Playground's Marcy Playground and King Crimson's In The Court of the Crimson King

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 14th, 2016, 8:55 am

Day 21
King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King

This is one of 20 or so albums I own on vinyl.

Pros:
- The opener. My word. "21st Century Schizoid Man" was...way ahead of it's time. If ever a sound was ahead of it's time, it would be this album, but specifically this song. Everyone else in the world was using blues scales, and in comes Fripp with his jazz scales and tritone solos. This song also has the heaviest riff of the '60s. THE DRUMMING. GILES. DRUMMING. Good grief. McDonald's woodwind performances are on point, especially the flute. This song still blows my mind. The timing and structure is fantastic, and it jams.
- Next, are some chill songs where the bass gets it's chance to shine, and Fripp goes a bit more traditional vocally and with his solos.
- "Tomorrow and Tomorrow" within "Epitaph" has a really cool spaghetti western sounding part to it and a really cool outro w/ strings.
- The influence this band and album have had on modern bands is very clear (see: The Mars Volta).
- The closer "In The Court of The Crimson King" is a great mix of the styles of the opener and the middle tracks.
-
Cons:
- My one complaint is that sometimes the organ can be obnoxious, especially in "ITCOTCK" when it sort of hits the same chord in an 8th note rhythm. Reminds me of polka.

Highlight:
I love how simple and atmospheric and sometimes haunting "Moonchild" is. The guitar and vocals in the intro and first verse are great. When it morphs into dream-like jazz, the keys and guitar are neat. That part was probably a huge influence on The Mars Volta's "Cassandra Gemini", when all the instruments seem to fall asleep, and the guitar brings them all back to life, almost...calls out to them.

Overall Score: 10/10

This would be in my Top 10, if it were more widely available (it's not on Google Play Music, Youtube, Spotify, etc.) to where I don't have to listen to it on vinyl every time.

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 14th, 2016, 9:14 am

Topsummoner wrote:

Day 20
My Epic - Yet

Overall Score: 8/10

Man, I'm glad you appreciated this. Upon checking, it is my top played album on Google Play Music, at 46 full plays.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 14th, 2016, 1:02 pm

Day 21
Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground

not a clue wee

Pros:
- Easy listening indie rock.
- A nice short comfy experience. Simple songs, simple sounds.

Cons:
- Just seemed kind of... unremarkable? There really wasn't any attributes of it that really jumped out as interesting.
- In music this simplistic, I tend to zero in on and weigh the lyrics higher and... there just wasn't really anything interesting going on here. Vocally he just seemed so... unenthusiastic too. Shrug.

Highlight: Gone Crazy. Loved the guitar on this track.

I don't really have much to say about this one. It was good but nothing special.

Overall Score: 5.5/10

Coming up next...
Day 22
Local H's Pack Up The Cats and The Alan Parsons Project's The Turn Of A Friendly Card

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 14th, 2016, 1:10 pm

End of Week Three

The story so far...

Hidden:

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 14th, 2016, 1:21 pm

Man, I think MP is hands down the most underrated band of the '90s. Musically, it is simple, but that songwriting, man. It's so good. Lyrically, John's hit or miss, but when he's on, he's on. "Opium" for example, are brilliantly simple but completely accurate. I think the unenthusiastic vibe you are getting is just his attitude. Many of his lyrics are sarcastic and/or black humorish. "Vampires of New York" for example..."...but please watch your step as you're getting off, kids." XD

Man, I love all of their albums.

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 15th, 2016, 7:07 pm

Day 22
Local H - Pack Up The Cats

Well that's certainly an intriguing title.

Pros:
- There were a handful of tracks I really liked... "What Can I Tell You?", "She Hates My Job", "Stoney".
- The album definitely improved past the first few tracks as things got a little more melodic or distinguishable.
- The interlude tracks were mostly nice and interesting however...

Cons:
- ... they ended abruptly before they really got anywhere.
- The vocals and lyrics on "All-Right (Oh Yeah)" turned me off right away. It was just... obnoxious, I can't think of any other way to describe it.
- The music sounds so... homogenous, a lot of the time. I don't really like that sludgy grunge sound.
- The attitude doesn't really resonate with me.

Highlight: What Can I Tell You? This track had some real gusto behind it.

While there were a few highlights, much of this album was just a slog for me. I can't give it any more than...

Overall Score: 5/10

Spirographed · **Posted:** October 16th, 2016, 1:01 am

Day 22
The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=3oLkFdEBorc

Pros:
- The album opener reminded me of this: https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=XzIl214PiNo
:XD:

- Very talented musicians with a tight and polished sound.
- I really enjoyed the strings throughout the whole album. On point.
- "Games People Play", "I Don't Want To Go Home" and "Snake Eyes" had great vocals.
- "Time" was obvi Floyd influenced. Good feel to it.
- Spaghetti Western feel of "The Gold Bug" intro was cool.

Cons:
- The synth used throughout was pretty cheesy.
- Most of the vocals were cheesy.
- The music did not keep me interested. It sounded like Pink Floyd wannabes that were just going through the motions with their instruments.

Highlight: I liked the timing of "I Don't Wanna Go Home" a lot. It had a little funk to it. Also, killer piano at the beginning and end. The most original part of the album.

I listened 4 times and tried my hardest to like this, but for the most part, I did not. I can appreciate the musicianship and songwriting, but not the delivery.

Overall Score: 4/10

Coming up next...
Day 23
Gorillaz' Demon Days and Andrew Jackson Jihad's Can't Maintain

Topsummoner · **Posted:** October 16th, 2016, 1:10 am

I have to admit I'm pretty surprised at the reception on that one, but 4 listens is more than a fair shot. I may be a bit blinded by sentimental value on this one as The Alan Parsons Project was the second group I really started getting into after Pink Floyd, but I just really really dig the crisp production and cohesive concept.

But you've made valid points, and it's just not your thing, and that's okay.

Top vs Spiro - 100 Album Challenge

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