ariich's Song Roulette - all done

[ariich]

NEXT:

THE FINAL

antigoon vs orcus116

The twist - recommend an album to listen to! The reasoning behind this is that often people recommend a particular song that I like or dislike but that doesn't necessarily represent the quality of the album it's on that well (good examples in this roulette have been Bright Eyes and The Black Keys). And to be honest, I'm far more of an album listener than a song listener.

So, recommend me an album! Ideally one that I can find on Grooveshark or Spotify. If it's on Grooveshark, send me the link. If not, PM me anyway and I'll have a look on Spotify. Style etc is completely open.

[orcus116]

 

Try looking for more stuff on Grooveshark from their Three EPs album. Folktronica is such a quirky genre but they make it work so damn well.

EDIT: Oh wow this is gonna be something.

[ariich]

And I was so close to sending Protest The Hero instead.

That might have served you better for the heavy song, but then you made it through anyway so never mind!

[orcus116]

Yeah BTBAM is a hard band to swallow at first but I personally feel their music is rewarding. Colors is the album that you'll hear a lot of people mention on here that does heavier sections in incredibly tasteful melodic ways and more bearable hardcore sections. I remember at first clinging to the bits of their stuff I loved for dear life as I plowed through the stuff that was a little too brash for my ears and eventually got so into it it just clicked at one point and I loved it.

[ariich]

Interesting, so which album would you recommend as a starting point? Or are they all pretty inaccessible in that way? I have heard Colors mentioned a lot, so I could give that a try.

[orcus116]

Definitely Colors though I could see you digging The Great Misdirect. If anything check out "Ants Of The Sky", "Viridian"/"White Walls" (I personally think they work best as a pair like "Wait For Sleep"/"Learning To Live", etc), "Obfuscation", and "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" (from Alaska). "Selkies" showcases all aspects of the band I think where it starts off heavy and has a gorgeous lighter outro/solo.

[ariich]

"Selkies" showcases all aspects of the band I think where it starts off heavy and has a gorgeous lighter outro/solo.

That sounds great, I'll be sure to check it out! I think that was the thing with Alaska, the heaviness was pretty relentless. After the intro it was a barrage of all out heaviness, and while there were some really cool bits in there, it was just a bit much to take in.

[orcus116]

Good thing I didn't send you "All Bodies" since that song is absolutely brutal but if you get an ear for that type of music it's such an incredibly anthem song. My friend showed me Alaska a few years ago and I was pretty much  for the entire time.

[ariich]

Yeah that was my reaction on my first listen when it really kicked off.

I'm listening to Selkies now, it's terrific. I mean there's still some really crazy stuff, but it's more spread out, and the contrast with the more melodic heavy stuff (like the opening riffs and their reprise) and the softer stuff towards the end is great, and even within the hardcore stuff, it's a little easier to make out the riffs.

See, this is exactly why I'm asking for an album for the final.

[jsem]

Yeah that was my reaction on my first listen when it really kicked off.

I'm listening to Selkies now, it's terrific. I mean there's still some really crazy stuff, but it's more spread out, and the contrast with the more melodic heavy stuff (like the opening riffs and their reprise) and the softer stuff towards the end is great, and even within the hardcore stuff, it's a little easier to make out the riffs.

See, this is exactly why I'm asking for an album for the final.

Selkies is easily one of BTBAM's best songs

[ClairvoyantCat]

Thevoxyn sent Zodiac and didn't win?   

[antigoon]

Wow. Never woulda guessed I'd win that one! This round is gonna be hard, I feel like I've used all my good stuff already

[AcidLameLTE]

Is it alright if I do a roulette after this one? I badly need some new music and to expand my tastes.

[ariich]

Is it alright if I do a roulette after this one? I badly need some new music and to expand my tastes.

You'll have to go to the stickied Tracker thread and join the queue!

[kári]

Well, he had it coming, stealing all my ideas!

[TheVoxyn]

. Glad I could join in though. Hope you found some cool stuff through me .

Well, he had it coming, stealing all my ideas!

[ariich]

Hope you found some cool stuff through me .

I really did! In fact I think every single round you've submitted an artist (or a comedy duo, in the case of Conchords) that I've been really interested in checking out!

[Dr. DTVT]

Soft ain't my thing...I knew that song would be the weak point.  Good game though.

[ariich]

Soft ain't my thing...I knew that song would be the weak point.  Good game though.

Yeah I figured most of you would be better at one than the other.

Also bump!

[orcus116]

Sent.

[ariich]

THE FINAL
Well, here we are. A well fought battle, and a very tough decision. In alphabetical order:


antigoon
Arcade Fire - Funeral [2004]
There's one thing in particular that you are absolutely right about – this album is a real grower! If I'm honest, on the first couple of listens I was a little disappointed, especially considering the quality of your submissions over the course of the Roulette, but the third listen was when it started to hit me how much good stuff there is in here, and since then I've just enjoyed it more and more. I think part of the problem was that the album gets better as it goes on (IMO), and so it doesn't give a great impression on first listen. Although now I quite like the opening song, but the next couple aren't so interesting. For me, Crown of Love is where it starts to get really great, and the second half of the album is top-notch stuff.

What I love most: All the songs, even the less interesting ones, have a really great feel to them. I also love the variety of instrumentation that the band uses, keeps the sounds fresh and interesting.

What I'm less keen on: His vocals. At times they do fit the music really nicely, but at others they just sound a little weird and irritating. I've got used to them so it doesn't stop me enjoying the music now, but I still find them annoying in a few places.

Favourite songs: Crown of Love, Rebellion (Lies)


orcus116
Neutral Milk Hotel - In An Aeroplane Over The Sea [1998]
This is a really solid album, and it grabbed me from the very first listen! Some of the fuzzy rock songs required a couple of listens to get into, but the folky stuff in particular was instantly appealing, and are really where the album shines. The album has an excellent flow to it and the quality is pretty consistent; there are a couple of less interesting tracks, but the start, middle and end of the album are all fantastic which helps it to be very accessible right from the off. There are a few moments throughout the album that remind me a bit of The Smashing Pumpkins for some reason, particularly in some of the rockier songs.

What I love most: The flow of the album is terrific, and the album has a great vibe throughout. But most of all, I really really love Oh Comely. 

What I'm less keen on: The production. It's not bad, but in some places the mixing isn't all that smooth, and just occasionally the recording seems a bit lazy, as though the take wasn't a very good one but they couldn't be bothered to do another.

Favourite songs: Oh Comely, Two-Headed Boy Part Two


Winner:
This is such a hard decision as both are really good albums that I'm going to rate 4 stars on RYM (I was going to do it already, but figured I should wait until after I've done my write-ups!). One was more immediately appealing, but the other was more of a grower, and so it's quite hard to compare them. I thought about bringing past submissions into play, but to be honest you've both been fantastic throughout, so that didn't help.

After much deliberation, I have decided that the victor is...































...orcus116!

I just really enjoy listening to this album so much, and there are 2 factors that just slightly give it the edge: Oh Comely (seriously, such a great song!) and the fact that it really feels like a complete whole much more than a collection of songs. You had a bit of a slow start to the Roulette but I think once you identified where the overlap in our tastes were, you've been terrific, so thanks so much playing!

Joe, you came so close! Sorry to have to give you the runner-up place, but thanks so much as well for playing; you've been the most consistent out of anyone and have introduced me to so much great music.

And that's it! I'll keep updating this thread as I check out full albums by all the bands and artists.

[TheVoxyn]

Omg, winning with IAAOTS  . I was planning to send a song from that sometime, but thought it would be too risky. Congrats!

[Sigz]

[TheVoxyn]

 

[ariich]

Wtf Ian, do you actually have an image for every situation?

[Sigz]

Yes.

[antigoon]

Holy shit, Orcus. I wouldn't have thought in a million years to send him that Good choice, though.

This was so fun, Rich. Thanks for having me.

[jsem]

Yes.

Do you have an image that suggests that I'm plotting to destroy saturn with a giant laser beam?

[orcus116]

Wow. I'm so glad you enjoyed it   You can see now why I didn't want to send the castrated "Oh Comely" they had on Grooveshark. Easily one of the most powerful songs on the album.

You guys have been formidable opponents and it was great going up against a fellow Mets fans for the final. I've yet to check out any Arcade Fire but I've heard great things about The Funeral so I'll check that out before delving into The Suburbs.

[skydivingninja]

My God, probably THE two most indie albums ever going head to head...and the worst of the two won

Still, this was fun to follow!

[antigoon]

I see your point with Neutral Milk Hotel but Arcade Fire is pretty mainstream. I mean they're on NYC subway advertisements for the Grammys

Oh and congrats, Orcus! Hopefully you don't think Arcade Fire is lifeless and dull like Sigz does!

[ariich]

This was so fun, Rich. Thanks for having me.

Wow. I'm so glad you enjoyed it  You can see now why I didn't want to send the castrated "Oh Comely" they had on Grooveshark. Easily one of the most powerful songs on the album.

Yeah when you mentioned a "key song" getting cut short on Grooveshark, you didn't mention which one, but after hearing the album I did kinda assume it would be that. Interestingly, although I think the production is a bit rough in some parts of the album, that song is where I think it's just perfect; the raw, 'rough around the edges' feel just makes it very powerful and personal. Just love it, on a couple of listens through the album I've had to go back afterwards and listen to that song again.

My God, probably THE two most indie albums ever going head to head...

In terms of sound or exposure? In terms of sound, I don't find either to be that indie, I've heard plenty of stuff that is much more so. In terms of exposure, you may well be right with NMH, but Arcade Fire are massive, especially in the UK. They're playing in Hyde Park this summer!

and the worst of the two won

You spelled "best" wrong.

[Ultimetalhead]

Good roulette indeed. Glad I got to expose you to Dog Fashion Disco and Floater.

[ariich]

Good roulette indeed. Glad I got to expose you to Dog Fashion Disco and Floater.

Yeah those two really interested me (even though the Floater song didn't do so well points-wise). And don't forget Buckethead, Seventh Wonder and, to some extent, Superior!

[skydivingninja]

I say "two most indie albums ever" despite AF's mainstream success because of the way sites like pitchfork and the music section of that-site-that-can't-be-named-because-they-have-boobies-everywhere treat those albums like God's gift to indie/hipsterkind.

Never could get into NMH.  Just nothing in that whole album appealed to me.