Band of the Week - Discussion.

Stompbox

I'm gonna be honest, I miss 'Album of the Week'. I loved that there was a place where I could not only engage and contribute in a dissection of some of the greatest slabs of wax to have graced our great, green Earth, but also to experience music which I'd never encountered before. Bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Can, Suede; I'd never really listened to any of them before I saw how well received they were by my fellow Boardsies. I scrounged countless of hours of insight and entertainment by simply revisiting older threads and opening my eyes and ears to some new sounds. (Why was it discontinued? Was it because of the ancillary thread for nominations/voting? I imagine that would have proved a lot of hassle for the mods?)

Anyhoo, I thought it would be nifty it we were to put a different spin on the format. One user suggests a band of the week, discussion/vitriol ensues and the user who's post receives the greatest number of thanks gets to choose the Band of the Week for the following Friday. Sound good? I'll kick it off I guess.

BLUR

Where to start with these guys? Once they got the uninspired, borrowed bagginess of their Madchester-lite debut out of their system, the Essex lads really found their feet. The subsequent three albums can be considered a trilogy in a way, simply because they were all paradigms of a bright, Britpop sound. The odd mis-step aside, 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' is a blast from start to finish. I've always considered Damon an underappreciated lyricist. 'MLIR' showcases some fabulously wry social observation on gems like 'Chemical World' and 'For Tomorrow', an acuity he continued to demonstrate on 'Parklife' and 'The Great Escape'.

However, while I tend to find that those three albums are most commonly touted as Blur's best efforts, I personally think that they started to get really interested when they cast off the Britpop shackles(something Oasis never quite managed but that's a whole different thread :P) and embraced a more muscular, moodier approach. 'Blur' was the point where I started to view Blur as heavyweight contenders, and the lo-fi approach proved to be just the start. '13' was a whole new sonic territory and they began pushing the boat a long way from the dock. It's my favourite Blur album, perhaps even one of my all-time favourites. It's just bursting at the seams with innovation, intelligent songsmithery and guitar heroics (undoubtedly Graham Coxon's swansong, be it the wonky, off-kilter 'Coffee & TV solo, or the 4 minutes and 48 seconds of the abrasive, face-melting licks that he was laying down all over 'Bugman', it's perfection).

One thing that's always irked me is how Blur's continuous reinventions were so widely underappreciated; songs like 'Battle' and 'Caramel' were the complete antithesis of 'Badhead' and 'Girls and Boys' but all four are stonkers. I've always considered Blur like musical omnivores and they seemed beyond comfortable irrespective of whatever musical style they were expounding, which I think is a real testament to their talents.

They continued that trend with their final offering 'Think Tank', which assimilated elements of African music and dub into an absolute nugget of an album. Some say Graham Coxon's departure was the end of Blur, but personally, I think not on this form! 'Out of Time' could be about the most gorgeous song they ever recorded, and the vocal melody to 'Caravan' is just fantastic. The album was also preceeded by what could potentially be Blur's greatest song, 'Music Is My Radar'. That song, it's beyond words. I guess I'll let it do the talking:

mosstin

Parklife is their best record by some distance.

The Pontiac

Stompbox wrote: »

I'm gonna be honest, I miss 'Album of the Week'. I loved that there was a place where I could not only engage and contribute in a dissection of some of the greatest slabs of wax to have graced our great, green Earth, but also to experience music which I'd never encountered before. Bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Can, Suede; I'd never really listened to any of them before I saw how well received they were by my fellow Boardsies. I scrounged countless of hours of insight and entertainment by simply revisiting older threads and opening my eyes and ears to some new sounds. (Why was it discontinued? Was it because of the ancillary thread for nominations/voting? I imagine that would have proved a lot of hassle for the mods?)

Look back at the winners. Incredible quality albums and great discussions. The best thread on boards.ie. It beggars belief why it was stopped.

Album of the Week #1: "Isn't Anything" by My Bloody Valentine

Album of the Week #2: "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" by Arctic Monkeys

Album of the Week #3: "Shut Up Your Face" by Ten Past Seven

Album of the Week #4: "Kid A" by Radiohead

Album of the Week #5: "Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness" by The Smashing Pumpkins

Album of the Week #6: "On the Beach" by Neil Young

Album of the Week #7: "Takk" by Sigur Rós

Album of the Week #8: "Show Your Bones" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Album of the Week #9: "At War with the Mystics" by The Flaming Lips

Album of the Week #10: "Ringleader of the Tormentors" by Morrissey

Album of the Week #11: "The Holy Bible" by Manic Street Preachers

Album of the Week #12: "Yes, Virginia..." by The Dresden Dolls

Album of the Week #13: "Rather Ripped" by Sonic Youth

Album of the Week #14: "The Queen is Dead" by The Smiths

Album of the Week #15: "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" by Pink Floyd

Album of the Week #16: "The Eraser" by Thom Yorke

Album of the Week #17: "Lift Yr. Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven" by Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Album of the Week #18: "Closer" by Joy Division

Album of the Week #19: "Mr. Beast" by Mogwai

Album of the Week #20: "Black Holes and Revelations" by Muse

Album of the Week #21: "The Letting Go" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Album of the Week #22: "In the Aeroplane over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel

Album of the Week #23: "You're Living All Over Me" by Dinosaur Jr.

Album of the Week #24: "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" by Wilco

Albums of the year 2006, as voted by boardsies

Album of the Week #25: "Pinkerton" by Weezer

Album of the Week #26: "Crane Wife" by Decemberists

Album of the Week #27: "Tago Mago" by Can

Album of the Week #28: "Return to Cookie Mountain" by TV on the Radio

Album of the Week #29: "Neon Bible" by Arcade Fire

Album of the Week #30: "Live at Massey Hall" by Neil Young

Album of the Week #31: "The Vertigo of Bliss" by Biffy Clyro

Album of the Week #32: "Different Class" by Pulp

Album of the Week #33: "Drums + Guns" by Low

Album of the Week #34: "The Sound of Silver" by LCD Soundsystem

Album of the Week #35: The Velvet Underground and Nico

Album of the Week #36: "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes

Album of the Week #37: "Murmur" by REM

Album of the Week #38: "Marquee Moon" by Television

Album of the Week #39: "Relationship of Command" by At the Drive-In

Album of the Week #40: "Astral Weeks" by Van Morrison

Album of the Week #41: "In Rainbows" by Radiohead

Album of the Week #42: "Tales of Silversleeve " by Cathy Davey

Album of the Week #43: "The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place" by Explosions in the Sky

Album of the Week #44: "Under the Blacklight" by Rilo Kiley

Album of the Week #45: "Ys" by Joanna Newsom

Album of the Week #46: "Deserters Songs" by Mercury Rev

Album of the Week #47: "In on the Killtaker" by Fugazi

Album of the Week #48: "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" by Bright Eyes

Album of the Week #49: "Gold" by Ryan Adams

Album of the Week #50: "Being There" by Wilco

Album of the Week #51: "Bakesale" by Sebadoh

Album of the Week #52: "The Trials of Van Occupanther" by Midlake

Album of the Week #53: "Terror Twilight" by Pavement

Album of the Week #54: "For Emma, Forever Ago" by Bon Iver

Album of the Week #55: "XO" by Elliott Smith

Album Of the Week #56: "Turn On The Bright Lights" by Interpol

Album Of The Week #57: "Room On Fire" by The Strokes

Album Of The Week #58: "Suede" by Suede"

Album Of The Week #59: "Wincing The Night Away" by The Shins

Album Of The Week #60: "The Life Pursuit" by Belle & Sebastian

Album Of The Week #61: "Heartworm" by Whipping Boy

Album Of The Week #62: "Antidotes" by Foals

Album Of The Week #63: "13 Songs" by Fugazi

Album Of The Week #64: "Tales of Silversleeve" by Cathy Davey

Album Of The Week #65: "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Album Of The Week #66: "Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine

Album Of The Week #67: "Silent Alarm" by Bloc Party

Album Of The Week #68: "Bring It On" by Gomez

Album Of The Week #69: "Is This It?" by The Strokes

Album Of The Week #70: "The Stone Roses" by The Stone Roses

Album Of The Week #71: "Puzzle" by Biffy Clyro

Album Of The Week #72: "JJ72" by JJ72

Album Of The Week #73: "Give Up" by The Postal Service

Album Of The Week #74: "Slanted and Enchanted" by Pavement

Album Of The Week #75: "Boxer" by The National

Album Of The Week #76: "Third" by Portishead

Album Of The Week #77: "Mezzanine" by Massive Attack

Album Of The Week #78: "Amnesiac" by Radiohead

Album Of The Week #79: "Dog Man Star" by Suede

Album Of The Week #80: "Unknown Pleasures" by Joy Division

Album Of The Week #81: "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars" by David Bowie

Album Of The Week #82: "Doolittle" by Pixies

Album Of The Week #83: "Definitely Maybe" by Oasis

Album Of The Week #84: "Vampire Weekend" by Vampire Weekend

The Pontiac

Although it probably would be a better idea to have an 'Album of the Month' thread on current releases. Start the thread first day of Feb for the January album.

Could also have a 'past albums' thread like before. Maybe break it up for periods.. Start at 1990, and run the thread for 12 weeks. 12 best albums of 1990 and then start again at 1991..

Jordo141

I like Blur. I haven't explored their whole discography; I just have that compilation album and Parklife. But I do agree with their flexibility. Most of the singles are very lofty, carefree, upbeat songs (Parklife, Girls and Boys, Song 2). But then you stick them next to the equally brilliant melodramatic brilliance of Tender, The Universal and No Distance Left To Run.

I don't really know which of the two sides I prefer, which has always made me stick to the singles.

Stompbox

You're in for a treat so if you delve a little further into their discography, they were so multi-dimensional.

Jordo141

Stompbox wrote: »

You're in for a treat so if you delve a little further into their discography, they were so multi-dimensional.

I want to, but I have a backlog of albums in my iTunes I haven't listened to yet

Jim_Kiy

I like the idea Stompbox..so if you wanna noimate an album you create a thread noimating that band?but wont this turn into a populariy contest..my next thread will be Nevermind:)

Stompbox

Jim_Kiy wrote: »

I like the idea Stompbox..so if you wanna noimate an album you create a thread noimating that band?but wont this turn into a populariy contest..my next thread will be Nevermind:)

No, no, that would create anarchy! They has already been an Album of the Week series of threads before so no need to retread old ground. I was suggesting that the user who posts on this thread and receives the greatest numbers of thanks (due to the insightful/entertaining/informative nature of the post gets to create next week's thread and posts their 'Band of the Week' for discussion!

Jim_Kiy

Well that will surely be you ..who is gonna be more insightful than the OP promoting the album.
I think the format needs work..something like pick a year and vote on the best album of that year?After thread discussion we put the likely runners in a general boards poll.

Miguel_Sanchez

Definitely do not start a new thread for each nomination.

Since this thread has already derailed into a discussion on how a Band of the Week strand should run I'm going to change the title to reflect that. When you guys are happy enough we can kick it off with Blur.

What do yous think?

smokedeels

I like the idea. However, I've little to say about Blur. Can I nominate a new band within this thread?

Would having nominations and discussion about the current BTW in the same thread be messy?

Stompbox

It would, yeah. All we have to do to sidestep the issue of the OP receiving the most amount of thanks is to simply make the OP exempt from nomination, easy! That should be all the logistics covered.

smokedeels

Sounds good. I think it will be interesting not knowing what band the winner will be posting.

Miguel_Sanchez

No nominations in this thread please. We'll start it off in a new thread with Blur once we're all agreed. (It was Stompbox's idea after all)

I really think people need to name the band they're nominating in their post otherwise it leaves it open to someone (possibly me) nominating Wet Wet Wet every time.

Stompbox

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

No nominations in this thread please. We'll start it off in a new thread with Blur once we're all agreed. (It was Stompbox's idea after all)

I really think people need to name the band they're nominating in their post otherwise it leaves it open to someone (possibly me) nominating Wet Wet Wet every time.

Wet Wet Wet, gah, is it too late to change my band choice?

Jim_Kiy

??..anyway I previously said James where
better than Blur in a thread. Im not saying some Blur is not good but
is it classic or more music that was cool as a soundtrack to the way
people lived in that era of freedom..I would rate the goralliz work higher than anything Blur did but I like darker/political music in general..prehaps its the times we live in...anyway James where damm god and a bit underrated..couldnt recommend an album..most famous for a crap song called 'sit down' they also have some classic songs..as if to emphasis the closure
of wiki today from 1991.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RxD8unAxhU

Break down the government walls.
Speak in tongues, power is money.
I see our interests fall
Well behind their curtain.
Break down the government walls.
Infiltrate our television.
Break down the government walls.
Time to be outspoken.

I can hear the sound of falling masonry
As they try to plug that leak.
I am tempted by their cloak of secrecy
To find out what their games are about.
Ask a question and they'll talk of secret services,
secrets from the people they should serve.
When they can hide their crimes in a legal disguise
Truth will not be seen nor heard.

In Ireland they may shoot to kill without warning you
Or lock you away for a while without trial.
And if an honest cop gets too close to the truth of it
They'll set him up in style. In style.
In Chine, they murder
Their youth
Who are questioning
How their lives are controlled.
Do they have the means to rewrite history.
Wipe out the genes of doubt.

Bring down the government walls.
Bring them down within my lifetime.
Let's see the curtain drawn,
see what they're concealing.
Bring down the government walls.
Secrecy suggests deception.
Bring down the government walls.
Crime to be outspoken.
It's a crime to be outspoken

Miguel_Sanchez

This thread is for discussion of the concept of a Band of the Week thread. Let's stay on that for the moment please.

When we've started people are free to discuss the band in question - however just starting to go off about whatever band you like because you think they're better will not be allowed. Otherwise it'll just turn into a 'Talk randomly about whatever band you feel like of the week' thread.

Obviously you can compare and contrast with other bands but hijacking a Blur thread to post James lyrics won't be the sort of thing we'd be looking for.

Jim_Kiy

yeah whatever..was'nt my original intention to hijack a blur thread ..thrill is gone now anyway .discuss ad infinitum

Miguel_Sanchez

Jim_Kiy wrote: »

yeah whatever..

Probably not the best reaction to on thread mod instructions. But since you might be new I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

If you have an issue with a post or with mod instructions then please PM rather than discussing it on thread. Thanks.

iamanengine

id just like to say neutrail milk hotel are epic!!and im new to boards but album of the month sounds like a great idea,for real music not the painful stuff you hear these days

stateofflux

Stompbox wrote: »

You're in for a treat so if you delve a little further into their discography, they were so multi-dimensional.

i agree blur were an amazing band...so versatile could do pretty much anything...sets them way above their peers and the majority of indie bands now could'nt touch their calibre

lordgoat

iamanengine wrote: »

id just like to say neutrail milk hotel are epic!!and im new to boards but album of the month sounds like a great idea,for real music not the painful stuff you hear these days

welcome, it's only painful if you listen to it. Also alot of people who i know find NMH painful so ya know...

Also don't miss mangum's gig, but if you don't have tickets by now you'll do well to get one.

iamanengine

lordgoat wrote: »

welcome, it's only painful if you listen to it. Also alot of people who i know find NMH painful so ya know...

Also don't miss mangum's gig, but if you don't have tickets by now you'll do well to get one.

Iv been trying to get a ticket for ages but they were sold out so quickly,i duno where id even look to get one now?and yes i suppose your right there not for everyone but come on,so epic!!if your going to the gig..then damn you :P

Stompbox

It looks like Jordo141 has received ethane most amount of thanks so he gets to open the new thread!

lordgoat

Stompbox wrote: »

It looks like Jordo141 has received ethane most amount of thanks so he gets to open the new thread!

not quite.

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

No nominations in this thread please. We'll start it off in a new thread with Blur once we're all agreed. (It was Stompbox's idea after all)

.

Miguel_Sanchez

Ok.

So here's the deal then. As stated Stompbox can start the first Band of the Week thread since it was his idea. Then have at ye with discussion and whatnot.

As people post they can also nominate a band for next week's thread.
Please nominate at the bottom of your post in bold so people can clearly see it.
Only one nomination per poster per thread.
At the end of the week the nomination post with the most thanks will get to start the new thread on the band they nominated.

Any issues or ideas for the Band of the Week please stick them in this thread.

So Stompbox - feel free to start the ball rolling whenever you want.

lordgoat

I'd say that to debate an album a week is adventurous. Maybe one every two weeks would be best.

I'd also say no to repeats from the original album of the week thread.

Miguel_Sanchez

lordgoat wrote: »

I'd say that to debate an album a week is adventurous. Maybe one every two weeks would be best.

I'd also say no to repeats from the original album of the week thread.

*ahem*

Read the thread. It's band of the week.

sillo

Can someone fix the typo in the thread title please, it should be Discussion not dicussion. It's driving my OCD crazy!

Jim_Kiy

Just to add the band of the week can be a modern upcoming band or an underrated band of yestur era...I think the idea should encompass an element of presenting new facts or insights into the band that are not widely known...rather than simply saying so and so are/where great.Also it quite vital that people use the thanks button as a voting mechasim...unlike AH the thanks button is often underutillised in these sections.

for anyone wondering re above posts..I have taken my ****ty attitude and flushed it:D

Jim_Kiy

Seems fairly logical that some folk who chance upon the thread might thank the OP so these thanks should be discounted and the next highest poster gets a go ..what if its a tie..well then the first of the tied posters to nominate in the thread wins..i can some draws happening.
And a week is not a long time so should be on-line by Monday and last till Saturday Eve..next poster has a day or two to compose/research????
Also people should have no fear to express negative opinions ..its not a personal attack on OP to state your opinion on a band...Im sure everyone knows that anyway.

Stompbox

Jim_Kiy wrote: »

Seems fairly logical that some folk who chance upon the thread might thank the OP so these thanks should be discounted and the next highest poster gets a go ..what if its a tie..well then the first of the tied posters to nominate in the thread wins..i can some draws happening.
And a week is not a long time so should be on-line by Monday and last till Saturday Eve..next poster has a day or two to compose/research????
Also people should have no fear to express negative opinions ..its not a personal attack on OP to state your opinion on a band...Im sure everyone knows that anyway.

I reckon we could circumvent the issue of people liking the OP's post by not allowing the OP to nominate for the next week.

I posted the current BOTW on Wednesday morning, so if we end voting on Tuesday and expect the nominated poster to publish his new thread on the Wednesday that should do.