Lurker > thundersheep

Bumps.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

transcience posted...

anyway philly is blowing the Warriors off the court, I better turn this one on before the Warriors wake up

Yeah even as a Sixers fan it's hard to watch. I know how quickly they can swing 20, don't think I'll be comfortable unless we're up 30 with 2 minutes left.
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MariaTaylor posted...

Corrik posted...

Are you a dude dressed as a girl?

I just googled it, Emil seems to be a male character. I guess you just think GMUN is cute so you naturally started thinking of him as a girl.

My first thought was "Probably a male character, but GMUN would have a pretty easy transition if he ever went that route"

Easy being relative.
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Now that I think about it, I'm probably done with any sort of format for this thing now. Really want to get started on that other list and that should take a bunch of my time. I'll still post some quick thoughts on whatever I'm listening to because I'm sure I'll get through all of these at some point. A final tier list would probably be appropriate, if not overdue.

St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

This album is so much cooler than I was expecting. I've been meaning to listen to her albums for years and this is actually the first thing I've ever heard from her. Very electronic, poppy, but experimental at the same time. Very... cool. "Los Ageless" is fucking incredible and is quickly becoming one of my favourites of the year. It's just a crazy powerful song and I love the fact that they acknowledge it in the sequencing by playing such a slow, understated track after, just knowing that you might need a minute to return to baseline. First 5 tracks are my favourite, but the entire thing is great.
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In all honesty Firefox is just my porn browser and I don't think I could actually switch from Chrome at this point either, I was just surprised that it actually lived up to the hype. They seemed so confident that it was faster than whatever browser you were previously using and while I never thought of Chrome as "slow" it definitely is compared to the new Firefox.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

MASSEDUCTION later today. Possibly Blue Lips too.
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Has anyone else tried it out yet? It's like... really fast.
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Listened to St. Vincent today, thinking I probably won't keep doing these daily. It's becoming more interesting to listen to each album for a few days and see how my thoughts change over time. I think the hardest thing will be to keep this bumped, since I have no idea how long it will take me to get through each... but I think I'll enjoy it more this way.
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No, unfortunately.
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Lights - Skin & Earth

I was worried about this album. I decided to listen to the debut single Giants a few weeks before the album was released and I wasn't impressed. It was generic radio pop and I felt like it didnt make a lot of sense coming from her. Luckily it happens to be the worst song on the album. While Skin & Earth at times feels like her most accessible album yet, it still has plenty of the things that made Lights previous albums so great.

While all of Lights albums sound unique in their own right, there are a lot more chances taken here and its probably her most diverse album yet. I dont think Ive ever heard her angry on a track before, and thats part of the reason why this album is so much fun and why Savage is such a great song. You hear her do things on this album musically that she hadnt really even hinted at in earlier works and it creates some incredible surprise moments. Especially in the first half with songs like Savage and New Fears, the music is more dramatic than its ever been and I love seeing her stretch out like this. This feels like a different album from her even from a vocal standpoint. Songs like Morphine have her singing in registers shes only flirted with in the past and the result is fantastic. As well as showing off some range, her different vocal deliveries allow the album to stay a little more fresh throughout its length.

Its all these great things that make Giants all the more puzzling. You can hear her influences pretty strongly on this album, and that song seems to be influenced by the worst aspects of modern pop. Other songs like Fight Club which is a straight up house track with club beats could be regarded as derivative, but even then her unique vocals tend to make the songs her own and her lyricism still separates her from the hordes of EDM producers attempting similar crossover tracks.

Its still day 1, but Im liking this album a lot, it could actually be my favourite of hers but Ive also been known to overrate things in my discovery phase.

Final Rating: Fight Club Is Closed, Its Time for Rock & Roll/10
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ExThaNemesis posted...

@thundersheep

people have been investigating Jesse Lacey's accuser, and her story is not adding up. In fact it is looking increasingly likely that what she had with him was a consensual relationship while she was of age that Jesse broke off.

The evidence shows her consistently soliciting sex and affection from multiple band members. Many sources have confirmed this.

Lacey's vague apology makes complete sense now, especially if he's preparing litigation.

It's funny because when I read the apology I, like others, noticed that he never mentioned her by name. I didn't take this as a slight to her though, I assumed that it wouldn't make much sense to direct the apology to her when he's probably done similar things to countless others he couldn't possibly name at this point.

It's not really my place to comment on whether anything happened with her, but I'm sure he's done similar things to someone and I do think it's good that he came out and apologized for it.

In other news... they canceled the rest of their UK gigs. Not a good sign since they never had a chance to announce the rest of the NA gigs for the final tour. I'm honestly assuming the worst right now and feeling pretty low.
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At this point all either of you have to do is repost some albums, given the fact that you were so early on I wouldn't feel too bad about slotting them in before some people's second go around. And even if I didn't... you'd be days away at most.
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Raka_Putra posted...

...I got skipped as well.

Actually, you just never read the rules... one 2017 album and the other can be anything.
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Man, that's all really sad. It's a shame that it's so hard for people to just talk to each other openly.
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Lights - The Listening

Speaking of people who used the same artists they did for the title track topic are you the one that made me listen to Siberia? Although that track didnt win, its by far the album Ive played the most since finishing that topic, and Ive been following Lights ever since. Ive always been really impressed with vocalists that produce their own music, and for some reason Im even more impressed when its a woman that does both like Grimes or... Lights. Maybe its a Canadian thing. I remember Drive My Soul being a pretty big hit when it was released, but I thought it was just generic electronica at the time, since I was really into trance and was a bit of an elitist jerk when it came to any other electronic genre. Listening to this and her other albums now, its actually kind of crazy the ear she has for melody. Her production style isnt as complex as many others in EDM genres, but its amazing how well the production fits her vocals, throughout her album history.

Its actually kind of odd since this is her debut album, yet its the one Im listening to last. I can definitely see how her production and songwriting skills have improved since 2009, but I cant deny that Im incredibly impressed with how polished this sounds for a debut. Ive always loved how genuine her lyrics were, especially compared to others in the genre, and its surprising that they were this good back then as well. Sitting smack dab in the middle is Pretend, and despite how understated the beat is, it works wonderfully as the albums centerpiece. The lyrics are just dripping with nostalgia, reminiscent of Running with the Boys on Little Machines. Its a song that really shows off her vocals and lyrical skill, and I just love when electronic artists have the confidence to strip things down rather than letting bombastic beats distract from their... shortcomings. The best part is that she takes it a step further and brings it back to close the album with a reprise of the same track, and its fucking acoustic. The closing version that simply features Lights and a piano is quite easily my favourite song on the album, which is saying something because Im really not an acoustic, piano guy.

The rest of the album is great too, not a single track Id skip but Im totally enamored with Pretend right now. Its really made me realize how talented she is, and I think Im finally going to have to listen to her acoustic records now. While I havent made it all the way through Skin & Earth yet, shes at least 3/3 on albums Ive heard, and thats kind of a big deal. All I want to do is listen to more of her albums right now which is a great state to be in as I get to review her newest tomorrow. Overall great record, thanks for the rec.

Final Rating: Im Listening/10
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Those are some great pictures.
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MrGreenonion posted...

Haven't heard of anybody I went to school with dying, but a guy I graduated high school with killed someone. I presume he didn't end up being convicted because he's doing fine now and his Wikipedia page doesn't even mention it, but I think that was more due to weird circumstances than him not being responsible.

...you've gotta link us the page if he's famous enough to be on Wikipedia.
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Mr Lasastryke posted...

i mean, the url in the opening post literally says "adult film star."

It's more this than anything. You're walking into a topic where the only thing in the post literally explains who the person is and then asking who?

Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you're just trying to be a dick, in which case it makes a ton of sense.
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Turducken posted...

thundersheep posted...

It's weird when people act like someone isn't famous because they've personally never heard of them.

This seems like the perfect reason to act like someone isn't famous.

It's just weird because fame is entirely dependent on what circles you follow these days. Like nearly everyone on this board knows who Jeff Gerstmann is, but I don't know if he's "more famous" than someone like Shyla Stylez. I mean I don't really even "know" her, I just have a great memory for names. The reaction itself makes sense if it's simply a news story, but when we're talking about death... it just seems crass and unnecessary.
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Long weekend.
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boom anime babes>real women>anime babes
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Cloud Atlas
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Corrik posted...

I mean, the guy is probably not innocent here, but... What if he is?

Nothing. This would mean nothing. We're talking about an industry where actors are denied work all the time simply because someone in the production doesn't like them and casting has never been based on merit. In the same way that women have been blacklisted for having a reputation of being difficult to work with (also with no proof or conviction) women are now able to use their power and say they don't want to work with abusers. This isn't setting a new precedent as much as it's shifting the power balance.
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It's weird when people act like someone isn't famous because they've personally never heard of them.
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SallyShears posted...

And your repeated attempts to downplay this.
"
Assuming everything she said is true, he quite literally never touched this girl yet we're supposed to brand her a survivor of sexual abuse and never listen to this band again?"

Yes, this at the least is sexual abuse.

This is helpful, I'm just trying to learn here. When I read the story I considered the events an "abuse of power" I would not ever think to call the woman in question a victim or survivor of sexual abuse because I generally consider this sort of badgering to fall under harassment and not assault. And I have very different feelings about how I view those guilty of either crime. I was just surprised reading all of the responses on twitter and reddit of how people were almost unanimously deciding to stop listening to all of their music, throw away all of their merch, and get tattoos covered up because of these reports. Personally I do create a distinction between acts I'd consider simply pervy or creepy and those that are unforgivable... even if they both happen to be criminal. It seems that others do not, and will disavow anyone who abuses power or influence for their sexual needs. I want to know how others feel and I wasn't being sarcastic, it seems that even a few here believe these men should all be cut off, regardless of the severity of the offense.
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StealThisSheen posted...

SallyShears posted...

Okay so bane used the word assault, which he already admitted wasn't accurate and has since changed wording

Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with you.

I was mainly saying the argument over the word "assault" is pretty dumb because sexual assault legally is a larger umbrella than just physical assault

Yeah, I feel that the problem is in colloquial use because people will use sexual assault almost as a euphemism for rape because the word itself is seen as triggering. I have a vague idea of what the legal definition of assault is, but when articles will print sexual assault when they are talking about actual rapes that were committed, I think it's a little irresponsible to use the same words when talking about a situation where there was no physical contact.
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SallyShears posted...

the point i was making is just because he didnt physically assault her doesnt mean this isnt despicable. I love brand new. I love laceys voice and most of his lyrics. But if this is true, he initiated a relationship with an underage fan who idolized him, continued the relationship for years and solicited sexual behavior from her. Even if he waited until she was 18 to request pics or masturbate over skype, thats still supremely messed up. I dont think anyone here is saying its as bad as rape. But that doesnt give him a pass

And I don't know how that even became the argument, this entire topic was made to discuss what degree of offense is necessary to justify cutting yourself off from someone's art. If you're referring to EC's post that is exactly the thing I'm curious about. Everyone has a different standard for what they'd consider messed up or unforgivable behaviour. And what exactly is a pass in this situation? Can one not condemn another's behaviour and not wish for them to be put in jail? Or have their livelihood destroyed?
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Okay, cool. All sex crimes are equal and the people who commit them are all irredeemable monsters. I see where the line is, got it.
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Bane_Of_Despair posted...

"Oh man that abuse is not as bad as THIS abuse so let's not get crazy here!"

Alright sure it's not rape there are you happy? But sexual abuse is sexual abuse and if my using of the word assault is the MOST IMPORTANT THING you got from my original post than holy shit

Why are we pretending that details don't matter in how some people interpret this story? Everyone has a different set of morals and if the difference is between soliciting nudes/exposing yourself cam with a 15 year old vs. an 18 year old that's a huge difference to some people and would literally determine whether or not they condemn this guy. You can call it poking holes in the story, but these are details that change the entire narrative... for some.

What I'm saying is that I already believe this happened, and even if she was 15 when it all went down, he didn't assault her and it's absurd to claim that he did. How can you honestly say that online harassment is the same as being physically assaulted?
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KamikazePotato posted...

This topic in a nutshell:

Yeah, he's been one of my favourites for a while.

Bane_Of_Despair posted...

Trying to "poke holes" in a sexual assault victim, great

This is why I didn't make a topic when the news first broke and was going to let it be here

Who are we talking about here? If it's the Brand New stuff, yeah I can see why people are upset that others are being skeptical about the accusation but are we really talking about sexual assault here? Given their music I fully believe that Jesse Lacey did everything she said he did, but no one was assaulted and it bothers me that we're equating any type of sexual misconduct with a term literally synonymous with rape.
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A story about Brand New's lead singer Jesse Lacey came out yesterday and it really got me thinking about how terrible someone has to be for me to stop watching/enjoying their art or supporting them in any financial sense.

I'll begin by saying that I've never seen a Woody Allen or Roman Polanski film. It's easy enough to avoid what are supposedly great works of art when you've never admired the artist in the first place. I've thought they were both pieces of shit for as long as I can remember and I have no desire to ever watch Annie Hall, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist or anything else they've done. I would feel guilty for putting even a penny in either of their pockets... We're talking about literal child rapists and that's an easy line to draw. But at the same time, I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, and I feel that when looking at his accusations I'm probably just being willfully ignorant. It's really just like that Chappelle sketch. It's not as if I don't think there's any way he could be guilty of it, it's just that I find myself making excuses and being way more skeptical about his cases than I would be for anyone else and even though I know it's 100% only because I love his music, if I question myself deep down I don't actually believe he did it.

So that brings me to today, and these past couple weeks. I'm not surprised by any of this information. People abuse power and we've known this forever. Why would modern celebrities be any different than royalty from centuries past, or even people in small-time positions like being teachers, coaches, store managers or CEOs? Clearly they're not and I don't doubt that the vast majority of people, famous or otherwise have abused power or made an unwanted advance toward someone at some point in their life. People fuck up, you live and you learn. It's the degree of these fuckups that has me thinking though. Harvey Weinstein is a literal rapist, and likely a serial rapist. Rot in hell. Kevin Spacey preyed on teenagers and attempted to rape at least one of them... fucking shitbag. Ratner and James Toback, rapists, fuck them. Louis CK asked women if he could jerk off in front of them in an abuse of power...meh? Like I read those types of stories and I think that's where I stop caring. Yeah he's not the greatest guy for doing that, but I also don't think those are the types of mistakes that should ruin someone's career. Grabbing someone's ass or similar types of groping... disgusting, abhorrent behaviour yes.. but not the type of thing you should lose your livelihood over. I'm still going to watch Louie because in my opinion he's just a creep, not a terrible human being. I have friends that are creeps, I wouldn't ever befriend a rapist or child molester.

Brand New is literally my favourite band, and much of that is because I think Jesse Lacey is one of the greatest lyricists ever. When I read the story about his allegations I came to the conclusion that I don't really care if they're true. Soliciting nudes from a 15-year old is pretty fucking bad. Forcing someone to watch you jerk off over Skype is bad, though it seems like an oxymoron to me (ever been to chatroulette?) but it's not even that I don't believe the victim, I've just gotten past the point of caring about every incident of misconduct. Assuming everything she said is true, he quite literally never touched this girl yet we're supposed to brand her a survivor of sexual abuse and never listen to this band again?

I don't know how many of you know me, but I lean pretty heavily into the whole SJW thing and have no problem admitting my biases when it comes to things like this, but I was also worried that like many things with the left, the virtue signalling was bound to get way out of control once multiple accusations started coming out every day, and sadly I think I've reached the point where unless someone has been physically assaulted... I just don't care anymore.

I have more to say on others but I just wanted to start a discussion, where do you all draw the line?
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Buuuuuuuump.
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Ben Folds Five - The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind

Whats the deal with all you guys requesting the same bands/albums you made me listen to for the Title Track ranking? Dont you remember what I said about them back then? Because I definitely dont. This album isnt nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. I was familiar the title track from that topic a few years back and its easily one of my least favourites from the album. I dont actually know if its because I think the song is bad, or if Im just sick of it after hearing it so many times back then. In general Im not a fan of the piano-driven production this album is filled with, as much of the time its sound is just so bright and upfront that it really steals the stage from the other instruments in the worst possible way. Luckily, a lot of the music is saved by the clever lyricism. Draw A Crowd is one that always catches my attention and is probably my favourite on the album. Its main sections feature the piano playing a lot lower than it usually is, which lets it blend into the mix a little better, especially during the chorus which features the brilliant line If you cant draw a crowd, draw dicks on the wall. I fucking love it.

Thats about all I love on this album though. Theres something about the piano on this album that I simply cannot handle. Its odd because I certainly dont hate the instrument as a rule and there is nothing inherently offensive about the melodies here either but I cant get into it. I should also probably mention that I feel similarly about the vocals. While I can enjoy some of the harmonies when they occur, I do not care for Bens voice in the slightest.

This is actually another one of those groups Ive always wanted to listen to an album from but never made the time. After listening I cant say Im a fan of the band or this album, but Im still pretty glad I listened to it, and it was actually fairly non-offensive to play in the background.

Final Rating: No Offense Taken/10
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Minimall - HUH!

Wow. Im really into this little EP. Its got that ridiculously sweet indie pop sound, the kind that is probably too sweet, but you tolerate it anyway because it gives you those warm fuzzy feelings.Everything about the recording feels low stakes, as if they decided to simply jam a few songs and record what they came up with. Thats not to say it musically sounds like a jam band its that there are literally a few moments through the recording that made me go Thats the take you decided to go with?. I dont mean that entirely as a criticism either, there are just a few awkward vocal moments stick out but at the same time they just add to the charm of the whole thing. Technical perfection surely wasnt the goal when they decided to record this EP and its likely stronger because of it.

There are some really powerful hooks here, most notably in Static which I feel is going to be stuck in my head for weeks on end. I honestly cant get enough of it right now and am fighting the urge to just listen to it on repeat rather than go through the rest of the EP. The only part I really dislike here (and to be fair its only 17 minutes of music) is the first 3/4 of Drunken Stars before the tempo change. It veers a little too close to that twee hipster ukulele shit that I cant really get into, but it still ends quite strong so I cant really complain.

Im really into this, Ill have to keep an eye on them.

Final Rating: It helps that a lot of this sounds like a mini mall/10
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jcgamer107 posted...

hey wait I got skipped

Very sorry, crazy that I missed it given the number of times I've combed through this topic to make sure I got the list right. I guess I'm not that close to finishing after all. I'll do one tonight.

CoolCly posted...

Man how do you get through so much music? I have to listen to a song many times before I really develope any sort of opinion on it and you're doing so much every day!

I actually feel like I've gotten really lazy lately in terms of how much I'm actually writing, but on my best days... It's actually not easy or much fun when compared to my leisure listening. I can't really do much multi-tasking if I want to form any decent thoughts and even then sometimes I'm just not moved at all and I really have to force it. The cool thing is that after doing it for this long, I don't need nearly as much time and I can actually get most of my thoughts on an album after one listen, while for the first couple weeks it honestly took all day and at least 3-4 plays before I could write anything.

I think I've mostly got what I needed out of this topic though, want to start a new project soon. I have something really, really Canadian in mind.
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Gnod - JUST SAY NO TO THE PSYCHO RIGHT-WING CAPITALIST FASCIST INDUSTRIAL DEATH MACHINE

Have to be honest, there isnt a lot to like here. There is a ton of repetition in these songs, usually focusing on a simple drum or riff, but the lyrics are incredibly repetitive too but not in the usual way that suggests laziness or a desire to create a catchy hook, but in a way thats more purpose-driven, as if theyre trying to create a chant that people can rally behind I dont like it. It all feeds into this sense of the music feeling directionless, as if theyre just marching around in a circle and repeating themselves until theyre finally heard. Im truly not sure if this is meant to be protest music in a literal sense, but it does a great job of creating the imagery within its composition.

As for the music itself I cant stand it. Not nearly enough going on with the instruments to pique my interest on a production level and the rhythms themselves feel very plodding. The vocals arent something I can get behind either. Its almost like a disinterested yelling. Yeah, its slightly paradoxical and altogether unenjoyable.

Final Rating: No/10

I am so close.
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Simoun posted...

So can I nom albums again now that you went through mine?

Yes.

This goes for anyone else as well. If you want to nom more, they'll just be added to the end of the list.

Luna - Free Somebody

Really short EP so Ill just give thoughts on each track

Free Somebody - Really cool dance track with some pretty great deep house vibes. There also seems to be some 90s house influence with some of the piano in the production which gives it a bit of a nostalgic feeling. Its great to hear these styles mixed together here and the vocals

Breathe - Pretty standard and kind of boring, also gives me a bit of a 90s-early 2000s vibe. Sounds like the kind of ballad that would be included on an R&B singers album. Without knowing the lyrics the entire thing feels a little corny in its execution.

Keep on Doing - I have such a blind spot for these genres that this is what I would call Persona music. I really like it though, its got a real attitude in the production. Very slick groove and some interesting vocals. Assuming its the same vocalist doing the rap interesting. And the vocal layering throughout the track is top notch.

I Wish - This is really cool. It digs deeper into that 90s R&B vibe, but also borrows some modern touches like the Flume synth and a few other EDM flourishes. It really feels like an alternate future Brandy track or something.

Galaxy - This is some real EDM bullshit. Nothing about this track is original. Dated preset sounds, obvious buildups and drops, overused effects Nope nope nope.

My Medicine - Another slower track like Breathe, though it serves as a bit more of a vocal showcase. Probably the first time listening I really focused on how pleasant her voice is. Not a track I can see myself listening to on its own, but its pretty solid.

Overall I really liked this. Surprisingly cool mix of genres in such a short recording, curious what her full length album would sound like.

Final Rating: Free Your Mind/10
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Tag
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When Robots Attack
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LlVE!
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velocycloraptor posted...

all you 'cilantro overpowers' dudes better hate pickles with a passion or you can just back off

This is true for me. I'm pretty sure I would literally hurl if I was ever forced to eat a pickle. Even when I have to remove a pickle from a burger, it's still ruined just because of the lingering smell. Can't think of any food that disgusts me more.
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I guess I'm the only one that doesn't have much of an opinion on it. Don't hate it, but a little definitely goes a long way and I find that it easily overpowers other flavours. It's not something I'd choose to add to a dish, but I don't mind if it's already on there.
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iiicon posted...

Enter the Void, no question. What a wild movie.

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Emilie Autumn - Opheliac

Get ready for an update to the tier list because this ones got nope all over it

As Ive mentioned a few times before, I really dont enjoy writing negative reviews so Im going to try and get this done quickly and clinically. There is a lot of personality in this album and thats where my first gripe lies. Ive never enjoyed artists playing characters or taking on personas in their music when those characters require a heavily affected vocal performance, and this album is full of them. Its a choice some people can appreciate and Im not going to argue that it makes the music inherently bad, but I find that these vocal exercises distract from the music rather than adding any meaningful quality. What Im complaining about here is basically the entirety of what Autumn does on the title track Opheliac. She switches in and out of many vocal affectations and while the worst is the strained/screaming/urgent one, I cant really stand any of them.

The second track Swallow is probably the only song I enjoy on this album as it feels like a mostly straight-forward electronica track with some nice vocal processing that reminds me a lot of the type of music I used to listen to in the mid 2000s. Its incredibly nostalgic for me and feels like one of the few tracks here that isnt so heavily inspired by a goth aesthetic (lyrics notwithstanding). The strings here are very tasteful and there is some great vocal layering features throughout the track.

I dont have anything nice to say about the rest of the album as Im not crazy about the goth-industrial production or the over-the-top theatricality of her vocal delivery. I appreciate the fact that this isnt an album that was simply slapped together in the hopes of having a few singles hit big, as its clear she approached making this album with a clear vision and concept the album is nothing if not consistent and cohesive, its just that there isnt much here for me to enjoy.

Final Rating: All this talk about vocal affect/inflection has me thinking about Marina/10
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

You were my favourite user for some time between 2003 and 2005, and I still believe that.... flattery will get me everywhere.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

Alanna82 posted...

At least Spacey apologized. The event happened 30 years ago. He probably doesn't remember it, so his comments seem fine to me. If he was drinking + 30 years he really might not remember it.

Yeah it's cool to have tried to have sex with so many 14 year olds in your adult life that you'd completely forget a few of the boys you failed to molest.

Jesus Christ.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

I didn't really watch the series because... Dodgers, but how did Roberts screw this up?
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

SmartMuffin posted...

Because people don't understand that virtually zero goalies achieve BOTH sustained superior performance over a period of more than 4-5 years AND do so on a team that isn't sufficiently good defensively such that whoever the starting goalie was would achieve similar numbers

Yeah... I never understood why people put so much faith into a goalie after they get a .930ish season. Literally every elite goalie ends up averaging .920 after several seasons and that's fine. I remember last season (maybe the year before?) when there were articles on WHY Price would win the Vezina again before the season even began. So ridiculous.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

ExThaNemesis posted...

What on Earth is wrong with Hollywood. Holy hell.

It's so bad. I've always hated hearing about this kind of stuff, but my girlfriend is a filmmaker who's just started working union gigs so I'm hearing about a lot of this first-hand now too. It's really fucking tough because I want to be happy for her working in the industry that she's worked so long to get in... but I also know it's virtually guaranteed that she's going to be sexually harassed by her bosses and that HR is completely useless and often in on the harassment as well. There's already been a few minor things I'm not OK with, so I'm hoping all this attention is going to cause people to straighten up a bit.

Also, what Inviso said. I'm curious to see if/when more stories come out from other areas with huge gender disparities... like game development...
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares

Halsey - hopeless fountain kingdom

While I cannot honestly say that I was hyped for the release of this album, I was quite interested to see how it would measure up against her impressive, yet inconsistent debut Badlands. Hopeless fountain kingdom does everything that can be expected from a sophomore effort, from employing a dream-team of hit producers, to collabs with hot rappers and even structuring the entire effort as a concept album but much like the concept behind this record, much of this album feels forced and perfunctory.

After a forgettable and unnecessary intro voice over (The Prologue) the album starts off incredibly strong with 100 Words. The track features her trademark vivid storytelling, backed by a relatively sparse, percussion-driven instrumental. Its really worth noting how unique and original this production sounds with its hints of jungle and understated guitar, especially in this age of tropical house. Alone is another highlight in the first half of the album. Borrowing its groove from a 70s R&B sample, the track sounds theatrical without feeling overblown and really makes you wonder how versatile Halsey could be if she chose to venture into other genres. Unfortunately, the best of this albums offerings are contained in those opening moments. Now or Never is the requisite lead single, with lyrics vague and meaningless enough to be sung by insert pop star here, and Sorry is the stripped-down piano ballad included to remind you that she can sing even without any vocal processing. While those two tracks are undoubtedly the low-point of the album, there is truly nothing remarkable to be found in the second half of this LP. Strangers featuring guest vocals from Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony does stick out, as its an 80s synth-pop jam sandwiched between a lot of music that feels so deliberately modern.

Hopeless fountain kingdom is an album that appears ambitious and calculating in all the wrong ways. Rather than an album that doubles down on the raw authenticity that made her debut such a hit, this feels like a by-the-numbers attempt to become the next big thing in pop. While the music here isnt exactly poor, it feels all too generic for someone capable of being a unique voice for a genre in dire need of them.

Final Rating: Im not angry just disappointed/10

So as per my own rules I only reviewed the standard version of this album, but since I've listened to the deluxe many, many times before I'll give the quick and dirty on those tracks.

Heaven in Hiding - Everything before "Now or Never" is great, including this song, should have been included on the standard

Don't Play - Laughably bad production (dated AND generic), don't care at all for the rapping

Angel on Fire - Manages to make a 48 minute album feel overlong

In short I wish Heaven in Hiding was on the album, and also that it was 5-track EP (first 4+Strangers) instead of an actual album. So yeah... now that I've read this I don't think I'm going to tell my girlfriend about it after all. She still plays this album all the time and I'd feel really bad if she stopped just because she thinks I hate it.
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http://soundcloud.com/thundersheep/these-beautiful-nightmares