Broken Social Scene (Official Thread)

[Chromefox]

For how well regarded this band and the artists that comprise it are, I'm totally surprised to find that there is no Broken Social Scene thread that has made more than one page and been posted in for two years.

I just picked up You Forgot it in People recently, and am totally surprised by how this band accomplishes indie pop/rock. I don't think I have ever heard a noisier album you could classify as "pop" before.

Stars and Sons, Almost Crimes, Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl, Shampoo Suicide, and Lover's Spit really grab my attention so far, but I'm certain I'll love it in its entirety once I have some time to digest it.

What I've heard of their other albums has been limited and sporadic, but I'm looking to get further interested in this band.

Thoughts on Broken Social Scene?

Spoons:
- Expectations for the next album
- Thoughts on the BSS Presents series
- Favourite songs
- Favourite album

[ThisIsNotDan]

I love alot of their songs but have no full album by theirs

[Chromefox]

I definitely recommend You Forgot it in People. I find that songs are so much better in the context of a record; I can't tell you how many artists I've sort of liked based on single songs have become favourites thanks to complete albums.

[theguy77]

the guy approves.

really though, that album, you forgot it in people has this idiosyncratic aura about it that keeps me coming back. i'm not sure if its the production or something else, but BSS is a band with character that really stands out, at least in my music spectrum. i'm a sucker for any band that can create an atmosphere of their own and wrap their songs in it, and underneath all the twiddling with noise and reverberations is the kind of indie-pop composition that makes me smile inside, but unlike the rest of the indie-pop in my library, its not an excited, dancey mood that is produced, but more of a tranquil contentment that can take the good with the bad. the music is comforting and calm, even on the up-tempo tracks, even when they turn up the noise and give you a mind-fuck. and they are so SUBTLE with the integration of sonic ambience -- a song will start out sparse and airy, and then 2 minutes later i'll all of a sudden realize the sound is bigger and more grandiose, filling all the gaps with the initial riff still going on underneath it all. and i find myself backtracking the song repeatedly trying to figure out where it happened, but the transitions are always so smooth and natural i can never figure it out. but perhaps the most impressive part of this band is the fact that there is not a single instrument that consistently takes center stage, and heaven knows there are a lot of fucking instruments on the record. it's all collaborative and BSS is a band that is not afraid to write unconventionally for the context of each instrument if it better fits the song as a whole. for example in one of the songs, you can hear the violins actually trading off the same note in a way that almost sounds like a looped drone in the center of the mix, and i find it enhances that part of the song. last but not least each song is different and makes an impact in its own little unique way. really great indie-pop album and some of the best music ive heard thus far.

[drudo182]

I really need to get BSS Presents Brendan Canning, "Something For All Of Us". It's the only one I don't have.

[Chromefox]

I really need to get BSS Presents Brendan Canning, "Something For All Of Us". It's the only one I don't have. You definitely do. I can vouch for that. He's got his own thread here too by the way.

[theguy77]

man, you forgot it in people is fantastic. the vibe of this album is so addictive.

[Chromefox]

They're recording. How exciting. I thought the news merited a resurgence of the thread.

[oddwithoutend]

Should I listen to this band, Megan?

[Chromefox]

You should definitely give them the time of day. Start with You Forgot it in People.

[oddwithoutend]

Deal.

[bowl of oranges]

Sweet band, I dig them a lot.

[underthetalking]

KC Accidental has one of the best drum parts in music.

[MyWorldEntire]

You Forgot It In People is my perfect summer album.

[Heart-A-Tact]

You Forgot It In People is my perfect summer album.

Agreed.

[Losing Streak]

They're a ridiculously good band. You Forgot it in People is definitely one of the better albums of the decade...and pretty much the perfect road-trip album. I like their self-titled album a lot too.

It's weird how many kids don't know that Feist was in this band long before that ipod commercial made her famous.

[Losing Streak]

KC Accidental has one of the best drum parts in music.

Yeah the drumming on that song, and Cause=Time (my favorite BSS song) is awesome.

[laurenleif]

i dont really like You Forget It In People all that much. the self titled album is one of my all time favorites, though.

[theguy77]

there isnt an album out there that has a soundscape like You Forgot It In People. i am still totally floored by "KC accidental" and "almost crimes", never knew that indie-rock music that was that upbeat could also be that fucking gorgeous, and the melodies are so quirky and ingenious and perfect.

[theguy77]

i feel like its almost CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIME

[Bloclullaby]

I just got into BSS. I think they're pretty awesome, my girlfriend showed me them. I loved Stars already. And she plays Feist and Metric for me sometimes so the girl vocals were easy to get into. And I think Kevin and Brendan are real good too...I haven't listened to the BSS presents series, but I'm sure I would like them.

I just picked up YFIIP a little while ago and like it a lot.
And my girlfriend owns the new book and some Vinyl of them.

Cause = Time and Looks Just Like the Sun are my favorite so far.

- Luke

P.S. Arts&Crafts is amazing.

[The Personist]

I agree with all the You Forgot It In People love in this thread.

[MyWorldEntire]

Love You Forgot It In People, haven't been able to get into the self-titled as much. Also this was another thread lost due to Ben's deletion.

[The Personist]

Really? That's fucked up.

[fenderrock89]

Just listened to You Forgot It In People for the first time all the way through. Really like it.

[theguy77]

no band knows how to make me FEEL, like this one. their album You Forgot It In People is like, "it's okay to love." and through all the noise and atmosphere and details and arrangements, its just as simple and endearing as that underneath. like, the lyrics dont even matter, and a lot of times they arent even trying to really say anything, but this alum's MUSIC fucking speaks to me anyway.

[Chromefox]

You Forgot it In People is basically like sitting in on a jam session between 15 indie artists who are all going "We've made our self-indulgent arthouse albums. I know, let's write POP!"

[theguy77]

You Forgot it In People is basically like sitting in on a jam session between 15 indie artists who are all going "We've made our self-indulgent arthouse albums. I know, let's write POP!"

problem is, they dont know how not to be self indulgent. at least 1/3 of this album comes across as a jam session. and i LOVE IT!

[Chromefox]

problem is, they dont know how not to be self indulgent. at least 1/3 of this album comes across as a jam session. and i LOVE IT! You can take the artist out of the arthouse... :-d

[theguy77]

You can take the artist out of the arthouse... :-d

hahahaha exactly.

i just love how they give you so many hints to the fact that they're just a bunch of musicians having fun and that they shouldnt be taken overly seriously. they have all these random, quirky little sessions in between each song, and they play with effects and noise so arbitrarily, and like on "looks like the sun" he communicates with his band in between his vocals... i dont know the album is just so honest and so REAL to me. i could go on and on about what i love about it.

[Chromefox]

There's something totally casual about it in spite of its complexity of layers and instruments, and that's brilliant.

[theguy77]

i am romantically connected with the music. hahaha

[Dagless]

Another band I've had lined up to listen to - reading this thread has bumped them up the list. Going to check out 'You Forgot It In People' today.

[theguy77]

WHAT THE FUCK THEIR SELF TITLED IS BLOWING MY FUCKING MIND RIGHT NOW

x

[theguy77]

come on somebody else get excited about this fucking amazing band

[chipdip18]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO

good band though.

[theguy77]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO

good band though.

seriously holy fuck this album im listening to for the first time, is driving me insane. the combination between dense, noisy, upbeat hipster self indulgence, and really cutesy indie pop melodies and dreamy chords comes off even stronger than on you forgot it in people, and while theres not as much a focus on songwriting, as someone who pays a lot of attention to the details of music and its production this album is making me crazy.

[chipdip18]

Hahaha will you be able to get out it?

[Chromefox]

Self Titled > You Forgot It In People.

Yeah, I said it. I also came here to bump it, but my job's been done!

[The Personist]

Meg's equation is the reverse of reality.

[theguy77]

fuck it. kid A will be back soon enough. but i gotta rep this incredible album.

[Chromefox]

Meg's equation is the reverse of reality. You told me you didn't much care for BSS anyways, so piss off. :-d

God DAMN you, Ryan, I wanted that avatar.

[The Personist]

You told me you didn't much care for BSS anyways, so piss off. :-d

God DAMN you, Ryan, I wanted that avatar.
Didn't I also say I like YFIIP but not the s/t? Because if I didn't, I'd like to append that to my statement.

[Chromefox]

Didn't I also say I like YFIIP but not the s/t? Because if I didn't, I'd like to append that to my statement. You never told me more than how you felt about You Forgot It, which was something like "I prefer (Some other album, probably the Libertines)".

[The Personist]

You never told me more than how you felt about You Forgot It, which was something like "I prefer (Some other album, probably the Libertines)".
Probably...actually, I think I said I preferred Feist solo.

[theguy77]

DUDE NO WAY THEY ENDED THIS SHIT WITH AN ANTHEMIC POP SONG. FUCKING AWESOME.

x

[Chromefox]

Probably...actually, I think I said I preferred Feist solo. Yeah I think that was it. Now piss off. :-p

[Chromefox]

7/4 Shoreline is a magnificent song.

[briewer]

come on somebody else get excited about this fucking amazing band
I think people got excited for it when it came out four years ago.

[Chromefox]

I think people got excited for it when it came out four years ago. Yeah, but I'd at least expect a few more people to come in and show the love. Hell, Broken Social Scene is recording, so we'll have something to talk about in due time.

[briewer]

Yeah, but I'd at least expect a few more people to come in and show the love. Hell, Broken Social Scene is recording, so we'll have something to talk about in due time.
But it's not like people are talking incessantly about anything else that was released 2005 or earlier (besides the obvious, and I think you know who I'm referring to). But more importantly, HOLY HELL THEY"RE RECORDING?!?!? OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!

[Chromefox]

But it's not like people are talking incessantly about anything else that was released 2005 or earlier (besides the obvious, and I think you know who I'm referring to). But more importantly, HOLY HELL THEY"RE RECORDING?!?!? OH HAPPY DAY!!!!! Haha, I do think there is a certain injustice in Paramore, All Time Low, and Brand New threads never leaving the front page during the years between albums, with BSS getting no attention at all. :-d

Why yes, I did contribute to some of that injustice, but it doesn't mean I can't be sensible about it.

[briewer]

Haha, I do think there is a certain injustice in Paramore, All Time Low, and Brand New threads never leaving the front page during the years between albums, with BSS getting no attention at all. :-d

Why yes, I did contribute to some of that injustice, but it doesn't mean I can't be sensible about it.
Meh, different strokes for different folks, I guess. I really wouldn't expect most of the people that use this site to be into BSS at any rate.

[Chromefox]

Meh, different strokes for different folks, I guess. I really wouldn't expect most of the people that use this site to be into BSS at any rate. Well no, most likely not, but you can't blame a guy for trying can you? At any rate, those people are the type we're probably not terribly interested in having a discussion with, and the music itself filters them out. Even the people on this forum who I'd expect to love this band pay little heed, and that's where Ryan's (should we call it distress? Exuberance?) comes from. :-d

[briewer]

Well no, most likely not, but you can't blame a guy for trying can you? At any rate, those people are the type we're probably not terribly interested in having a discussion with, and the music itself filters them out. Even the people on this forum who I'd expect to love this band pay little heed, and that's where Ryan's (should we call it distress? Exuberance?) comes from. :-d
I guess in that sense I'm part of the problem too, as I spend most of my time here ass-grabbing with Todd, David, and Ryan and not actually contributing to discussions for things I actually care about. I'll do better from now on.

Anyhoo, about this new album they're working on. Have they given any general targets for a street date, or is it still really preliminary? And will Feist be on it?

[Chromefox]

I guess in that sense I'm part of the problem too, as I spend most of my time here ass-grabbing with Todd, David, and Ryan and not actually contributing to discussions for things I actually care about. I'll do better from now on.

Anyhoo, about this new album they're working on. Have they given any general targets for a street date, or is it still really preliminary? And will Feist be on it?As far as I know, it's so early in the recording that no dates have been set. I'd assume Feist would be on it, and I'd be both surprised and distressed if she weren't. Likewise Emily Haines.

As much as I love Feist, I prefer her in Broken Social Scene.

[briewer]

As far as I know, it's so early in the recording that no dates have been set. I'd assume Feist would be on it, and I'd be both surprised and distressed if she weren't. Likewise Emily Haines.

As much as I love Feist, I prefer her in Broken Social Scene.
Awesome. I'm really looking forward to hearing more about this as time goes on.

[Chromefox]

I did pick up recently from somewhere a cover they did of Love Will Tear Us Apart, but I haven't yet heard it. I'm willing to share it with whoever is interested though.

[theguy77]

I guess in that sense I'm part of the problem too, as I spend most of my time here ass-grabbing with Todd, David, and Ryan and not actually contributing to discussions for things I actually care about. I'll do better from now on.

Anyhoo, about this new album they're working on. Have they given any general targets for a street date, or is it still really preliminary? And will Feist be on it?

*enjoys your ass-grabbing*

being called todd lite by todd himself was fucking brutal, i wanted to comment on that haha. but i must admit there is an air of truth to it hahaha. you have your distinctions though.

oh and what i came in this thread to say: there are few things in life i enjoy more than a spin of "KC accidental". seriously one of my favorite songs in my library.

[Klatzke]

Listening now for the first time.

[The Personist]

YFIIP is so good, as a listen is confirming now. Still can't get into s/t, though. :shrug:

[briewer]

being called todd lite by todd himself was fucking brutal, i wanted to comment on that haha. but i must admit there is an air of truth to it hahaha.
That's the worst part. There was no denying it, I just had to take it.

you have your distinctions though.
Yeah, I'm not gay.

oh and what i came in this thread to say: there are few things in life i enjoy more than a spin of "KC accidental". seriously one of my favorite songs in my library.
This. I could listen to that song on repeat all day long.

[mmmmmpoetry]

You Forgot It In People is one of the best albums to come out this decade.
Currently listening to their version of "Baby You're In Luck" on some radio show.
They make me feel good when I listen to them.

[drudo182]

I still need to pick up BSS presents Brendan Canning, "Something For All Of Us". Found it on viynl but didn't have enough money.

[maxvsmaradona]

I've been listening to the self titled recently. I used to not be able to listen to any other song but Fire Eye'd Boy, but I'm glad I'm giving this album the time of day right now. Seriously, the weather outside is chilly, rainsoaked, and the sky is grey. totally fitting.

I'm going to torrent You Forgot It In People right now.

edit: Turns out, I already torrented the discography when I was looking for the self titled. Win.

[TachyonEvan]

Holy hype band, Batman!

[Chromefox]

Holy hype band, Batman! See, the problem with this statement is that if they were really just a hype band, you'd be kissing their ass. ;-)

I still need to pick up BSS presents Brendan Canning, "Something For All Of Us". Found it on viynl but didn't have enough money. Yes you do. Really good album. Got me in to Broken Social Scene in the first place.

[theguy77]

Holy hype band, Batman!

maybe, but they're way better than any of the hype bands you listen to :-p

[Burn That Shit]

Holy hype band, Batman!

What the fuck? You listen to every shit hype band this website pukes out, and more.

[TachyonEvan]

maybe, but they're way better than any of the hype bands you listen to :-p

Like?

See, the problem with this statement is that if they were really just a hype band, you'd be kissing their ass. ;-)
Oh, ha ha. I see you're back.
What the fuck? You listen to every shit hype band this website pukes out, and more.
Nope.

[briewer]

Holy hype band, Batman!
You realize that after going four years without releasing an album, they cease to be a hype band, yes? I mean, you can't exactly hype something that's been on shelves since 2005.

Also, shut up.

[Burn That Shit]

Nope.

No, I'm quite positive that's true, I could make a list.

[drudo182]

How is BSS a hype band?

[Chromefox]

How is BSS a hype band? Every implication of the words "hype band" fail to apply to Broken Social Scene.

[ilikesound93]

Love this band.

EDIT: Did I already post that?....ah well.

[drudo182]

Every implication of the words "hype band" fail to apply to Broken Social Scene.

Would agree.

[Chromefox]

After as many listens as I have given the S/T in the last two days, I'm almost of the opinion that it's a more straightforwards album than You Forgot It, or at the least much more straightforwards than I have seen people make it out to be.

[TachyonEvan]

The reason I call this band a hype band is for two reasons:

1) I remember reading about this band in SPIN back in like, 2005 and 2006. I would lump them in with bands like Yo La Tengo and Wolf Parade, and I associate them now with hipster bands like Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, The New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot. I'm sure all these bands are very good in their own ways. I stand by the claim, though, that they're not for me. I understand that doesn't make them bad, but the "hipster" attitude really REALLY turns me off. I remember reading SPIN and not feeling "good enough" to listen to the bands they were talking about. Hell, a lot of these bands just sounded like The Strokes and Interpol, only weirder. But they were too hip for lowly me? Fuck that. Thus, I've avoided that whole New York/Montreal-based hipster culture, including this band.

2) You all seemed to discover this band about a week ago. Seriously, I had never heard any of you talk about this band until just recently. That sounds like building hype to me.

[TachyonEvan]

That being said, I digs this "Cause=Time" song.

[The Personist]

The reason I call this band a hype band is for two reasons:

1) I remember reading about this band in SPIN back in like, 2005 and 2006. I would lump them in with bands like Yo La Tengo and Wolf Parade, and I associate them now with hipster bands like Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, The New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot. I'm sure all these bands are very good in their own ways. I stand by the claim, though, that they're not for me. I understand that doesn't make them bad, but the "hipster" attitude really REALLY turns me off. I remember reading SPIN and not feeling "good enough" to listen to the bands they were talking about. Hell, a lot of these bands just sounded like The Strokes and Interpol, only weirder. But they were too hip for lowly me? Fuck that. Thus, I've avoided that whole New York/Montreal-based hipster culture, including this band.

2) You all seemed to discover this band about a week ago. Seriously, I had never heard any of you talk about this band until just recently. That sounds like building hype to me.
Um, yeah, BSS sounds nothing like The Strokes or Interpol. Do you feel you're not hip enough to listen to Neutral Milk Hotel? You certainly overcame that prejudice.

[theguy77]

The reason I call this band a hype band is for two reasons:

1) I remember reading about this band in SPIN back in like, 2005 and 2006. I would lump them in with bands like Yo La Tengo and Wolf Parade, and I associate them now with hipster bands like Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, The New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot. I'm sure all these bands are very good in their own ways. I stand by the claim, though, that they're not for me. I understand that doesn't make them bad, but the "hipster" attitude really REALLY turns me off. I remember reading SPIN and not feeling "good enough" to listen to the bands they were talking about. Hell, a lot of these bands just sounded like The Strokes and Interpol, only weirder. But they were too hip for lowly me? Fuck that. Thus, I've avoided that whole New York/Montreal-based hipster culture, including this band.

2) You all seemed to discover this band about a week ago. Seriously, I had never heard any of you talk about this band until just recently. That sounds like building hype to me.

1) spin magazine is a horrible basis for any opinion on music.
2) are you kidding me? ive been bumping this thread repeatedly for months.

and also,

3) broken social scene sounds nothing like the bands you are lumping them with. in fact i'd say they stand alone in a lot of ways. and i mean, where the hell is the hipster attitude you're speaking of? you're just not gonna give them a chance because a few of their fans piss you off? thats lame.

[TachyonEvan]

1) spin magazine is a horrible basis for any opinion on music.
2) are you kidding me? ive been bumping this thread repeatedly for months.

and also,

3) broken social scene sounds nothing like the bands you are lumping them with. in fact i'd say they stand alone in a lot of ways. and i mean, where the hell is the hipster attitude you're speaking of? you're just not gonna give them a chance because a few of their fans piss you off? thats lame.

Okay, okay, okay. It's not because hipsters piss me off, it's because the whole scene is so pretentious. I have absolutely no problem with BSS, I just consider them a product of the hipster hype machine that chooses a new band every day. BSS just happened to get sucked into that for me.

/turnedoff

Um, yeah, BSS sounds nothing like The Strokes or Interpol. Do you feel you're not hip enough to listen to Neutral Milk Hotel? You certainly overcame that prejudice.

A lot of the bands I listened to that were "too hip" for me sounded like The Strokes or Interpol. Everyone listens to NMH. They're the obligatory "hip" music.

[The Personist]

Okay, okay, okay. It's not because hipsters piss me off, it's because the whole scene is so pretentious. I have absolutely no problem with BSS, I just consider them a product of the hipster hype machine that chooses a new band every day. BSS just happened to get sucked into that for me.

/turnedoff



A lot of the bands I listened to that were "too hip" for me sounded like The Strokes or Interpol. Everyone listens to NMH. They're the obligatory "hip" music.
As someone who is pretty entrenched in the AP.net hype machine, I think you have no right to call anyone pretentious. We've had maybe three decent discussions on AP; the rest involved you telling me I was wrong or that I was an asshole because I didn't like Mute Math, Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack, Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, or Say Anything as much as I did The Libertines or whatever other band I may have been excited about. I may be a prick sometimes, but when I have a serious point to make, I make it clearly and cohesively (see: our MCS v. The Libertines argument). You simply don't have any room to criticize. It's one pretentious scene calling another pretentious scene pretentious.

[TachyonEvan]

As someone who is pretty entrenched in the AP.net hype machine, I think you have no right to call anyone pretentious. We've had maybe three decent discussions on AP; the rest involved you telling me I was wrong or that I was an asshole because I didn't like Mute Math, Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack, Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, or Say Anything as much as I did The Libertines or whatever other band I may have been excited about. I may be a prick sometimes, but when I have a serious point to make, I make it clearly and cohesively (see: our MCS v. The Libertines argument). You simply don't have any room to criticize. It's one pretentious scene calling another pretentious scene pretentious.

1) Absolutely. Fact is, though, I'm not even remotely pretentious. I have absolutely no right to be pretentious, considering the music I listen to. Some of it isn't even very good. I have no room to be pretentious. Nor am I criticizing BSS. Merely remarking on the hype that currently surrounds this band.
2) New MUTEMATH album is dissapointing.
3) Our MCS vs. Libertines argument was one of the best we've ever had.

[The Personist]

1) Absolutely. Fact is, though, I'm not even remotely pretentious. I have absolutely no right to be pretentious, considering the music I listen to. Some of it isn't even very good. I have no room to be pretentious. Nor am I criticizing BSS. Merely remarking on the hype that currently surrounds this band.
2) New MUTEMATH album is dissapointing.
3) Our MCS vs. Libertines argument was one of the best we've ever had.
1) It's almost impossible to state an opinion in a way that isn't able to be construed as pretentious by someone else. That is one of the (many) issues I have with Say Anything; Bemis thinks he can criticize pretentious people by being pretentious. It doesn't work. Oh, and I wrote him a massive AP message about his modernist bullshit this morning). In a sense, we can criticize aspects of other scenes we don't like, such as the hype machines (prevalent in both indie and AP.net music), but we can't say "this scene sucks because it has a hype machine." That's far less of a grey area when talking about pretense.
2) Wouldn't know. Haven't listened. Don't care.
3) You copped out and wouldn't finish. The end of Never Never also proves my point that Gary is a great drummer.

[briewer]

1) Absolutely. Fact is, though, I'm not even remotely pretentious. I have absolutely no right to be pretentious, considering the music I listen to. Some of it isn't even very good. I have no room to be pretentious. Nor am I criticizing BSS. Merely remarking on the hype that currently surrounds this band.
2) New MUTEMATH album is dissapointing.
3) Our MCS vs. Libertines argument was one of the best we've ever had.
Why would that make a difference in whether you like them or not? I listen to the same music as a lot of assholes. A LOT. Pretty much any time they open their mouths I'm warming up my eyes for an eyeroll, so yes, I understand there are a lot of pretentious, unbearable people out there. But that doesn't affect the music and shouldn't affect the way you look at their music. A lot of shitheads listen to Grizzly Bear, and BSS, and Animal Collective, and a thousand other bands out there, but that doesn't change the fact that these bands are putting out good music, and shouldn't affect whether you listen to them.

Also, you started a dance-punk thread like two weeks, and if you can't see the hypocrisy in you criticizing BSS while trumpeting a (fake) genre Pitchfork was wanking itself to back at the early part of this decade, you're beyond help.

[TachyonEvan]

How is dance-punk a fake genre?

[underthetalking]

Whining that you can't listen to a band because of the preconceived notions you have of other people that listen to said band is both asinine and stupid. Listen to the damn music and don't worry about it. I think most Brand New and Manchester Orchestra fans are complete morons, but I still listen to Brand New. I don't listen to Manchester Orchestra because they bore the crap out of me, not because of their fans. Shut the hell up, judge a band based on the music. Other people's opinions of music should have ZERO factor in your opinion on music.

[Chromefox]

In order for a band to be a "hype" band, they must be both be overrated and suddenly popularized, the first of which isn't even possible because of such a lack of the second. Two people are paying any attention to Broken Social Scene, and you call them a hype band. That's why we think your statement was so idiotic.

[theguy77]

FUCK this band is good.

[The Personist]

FUCK this band.
:jawdrop: I knew you only pretended to like them.

[Cuddleworthy]

BSS is not a "hyped" band, they established themselves a long, long time ago. Just because one or two people HERE decide to discover them now doesn't mean shit. Just sayin'

[pennie]

BSS is not a "hyped" band, they established themselves a long, long time ago. Just because one or two people HERE decide to discover them now doesn't mean shit. Just sayin'

This is what I was going to say while reading through this thread.Well said Cuddleworthy.

[briewer]

BSS is not a "hyped" band, they established themselves a long, long time ago. Just because one or two people HERE decide to discover them now doesn't mean shit. Just sayin'
It came from Evan, you're not supposed to take it seriously.

[chrissygerraty]

For anyone who made it to ACL this year, you know how ridiculously amazing the Broken Social Scene show was! It's definitely not every day that I get to see my favorite band perform in a power plant...

If you didn't get to see it, here (http://www.spinearth.tv/report/acl-social-broken-social-scene-plays-live-after-austin-city-limits) is a sweeet video from the show I thought I'd share with you all. Enjoy guys!

[c_rob2700]

Park that car, drop that phone, sleep on the floor, dream about meeeeeee

Ty_LAi0dleU

Watch this because Emily Haines slays. You Forgot It In People slays. This band slays

[Chromefox]

The women of Broken Social Scene > Jenny Lewis.

[c_rob2700]

Seriously, love love love the 1-2 punch of "Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl" to "Cause = Time" on this album. After some research, I also find it awsome that members of Metric, Do Make Say Think, and Stars contribute to the band.

Can't wait for 2010, supposedly John McIntire (Tortoise) is producing which is a major plus

[Chromefox]

Dude, almost every musician born out of Toronto has had a hand in BSS. Their second album has appearances from Jason Tait (The Weakerthans) and K-OS, among others. :-d

[c_rob2700]

Another score for Canada.

See, my first listen, I was kind of getting an Arcade Fire vibe with all the instruments and orchestration. Second listen, all the chaotic noise of "Cause = Time" was giving me a Los Campesinos! (musically, not lyrically/vocally) vibe. Now, I'm just starting to get an all original Broken Social Scene vibe. They look like they'd be such an awsome act to catch live.

[Chromefox]

I never got the same kind of whimsy from BSS that I get from AF, but I understand what you mean by the comparison. Really, they're a thing all their own, which I'm glad to see you are hearing for yourself.

Just wait until S/T. Omfg.

[c_rob2700]

From everything I've seen, most people say that YFIIP is a lot better but I trust you and Ryan, so we'll see. In the meanwhile, I think I'm going to be using this lettering for printmaking

http://shockmountain.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/picture-12.png?w=510&h=510

EDIT: Also, I'm surprised imahoodlumKatie didn't show up the second I said "Emily Haines"
EDIT 2: Nevermind, haha, she responded to me posting that video on Twitter a half hour ago

[Chromefox]

He's going to crap on my head for this, but I find You Forgot It to be a bit too stylistically scatterbrained to really, really love it. I actually think it's more self-indulgent and aimless than S/T, which is what S/T is often criticized for. I feel like every song on You Forgot It strikes such a different mood that I can never really settle down into any of them. Just when I'm starting to feel what they're portraying, I get hit with something entirely different, and while not unpleasant whatsoever, doesn't have the cohesion for me to appreciate as an album.

[c_rob2700]

Uhm, well, I'd love to discuss and compare the two and all but I would kinda sorta have to LISTEN TO S/T FIRST. Which I will, soon. Methinks I'm going to grab the two EP's tomorrow

[Chromefox]

Good to hear! Make us proud.

[theguy77]

all they want is a FREE RIIIIIIDE
(WE WONT BE WHAT YOU WANT US TO BE, OH NO!)

[GuitarR0cker1]

Bump. I think I finally "get" this band. You Forgot It In People is so great.

[youngmountain]

I love the production on songs like KC accidental, in fact I still remember the first time I heard that song, fell in love instantly. I need to get the self titled.

[c_rob2700]

New album should be out on May 4th (same day as The New Pornographers and my birthday, JUST SAYIN'). Interesting enough, Tortoise's John McEntire produced it, not Dave Newfield

It's been five years since the nebulous indie rock guitar maelstrom known as Broken Social Scene (http://pitchfork.com/artists/475-broken-social-scene/) last graced us with a full album of their sprawl. But after a couple semi-solo albums and near-constant touring, the group is ready to let loose their official follow up to 2005's Broken Social Scene (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/955-broken-social-scene/) with a new, as-yet-untitled LP due out May 4 via Arts & Crafts (http://www.arts-crafts.ca/).


Thanks to Broken Social Scene's revolving-door member policy, you never quite know who's going to be (or who's not going to be) involved in a new BSS record. This time, the album was written and arranged by a core six-piece (pictured), including singer-guitarist Kevin Drew, singer-bassist Brendan Canning, drummer Justin Peroff, guitarist Charles Spearin, and singer-guitarist Andrew Whiteman, along with relative newcomer Sam Goldberg on (what else?) guitar. Of course, that's not all.


The new album's extended cast features many names fans will recognize from their previous triumphs with the group: Leslie Feist (http://pitchfork.com/artists/1622-feist/), Stars (http://pitchfork.com/artists/3933-stars/)' Amy Millan and Evan Cranley, Metric (http://pitchfork.com/artists/2888-metric/)'s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw, Jason Collett (http://pitchfork.com/artists/898-jason-collett/), Do Make Say Think (http://pitchfork.com/artists/1122-do-make-say-think/)'s Ohad Benchetrit, John Crossingham, Marty Kinack, Julie Penner, Leon Kingstone, and Lisa Lobsinger.


And there are a bunch of newbies, too, chief among them being the LP's producer, post-rock icon John McEntire, who plays in Tortoise (http://pitchfork.com/artists/4267-tortoise/) and the Sea and Cake (http://pitchfork.com/artists/3724-the-sea-and-cake/) and has manned the boards for his own groups as well as others including Stereolab and Teenage Fanclub. Along with McEntire, Sea and Cake's Sam Prekop, Tortoise's Doug McCombs, Pavement's Spiral Stairs, former Death From Above 1979 singer-drummer Sebastien Grainger, Poi Dog Pondering's Susan Voelz, Helen Money's Alison Chesley, and the Weakerthans' Jason Tait can all be heard (somewhere) on the album.


Recorded at McEntire's Soma Studios in Chicago and Shaw and Grainger's Giant Studios in Toronto throughout last year, the new record does not, however, feature the talents of producer Dave Newfeld, who played a sizable role in shaping the band's self-titled release and their 2002 breakout, You Forgot It In People (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/952-you-forgot-it-in-people/). But rejuvenation and reinvention are intrinsic to these anthem-prone Canadians; if you're looking for stability and constancy, it might be best to look elsewhere.


As if all of that info wasn't enough to get the BSS blood churning once again, band co-founder Kevin Drew recently took a brief break from mixing to speak with us about the gestation of the new album and hinted at what we can expect to hear. The interview-- along with a handful of new North America and European dates set to take place around the time of the album's release-- is below.


Pitchfork: Your last album came out five years ago but, considering the "Broken Social Scene Presents" albums from you (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10676-spirit-if/) and Brendan (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12013-something-for-all-of-us/) and the touring you guys did behind them, it's almost like you never left.
Kevin Drew: That's why the "Broken Social Scene Presents" records worked. After the tour for Broken Social Scene in 2006, it was a very confusing time. I know I say it a lot-- it almost sounds like I use it as some marketing tool-- but if there was any time when we were going to break up it was after that tour. Andrew [Whiteman] and Charles [Spearin] split. And Brendan [Canning] and Justin [Peroff] and I had to go out and find a new band and try to make this "Broken Social Scene Presents" thing work on the road. But we ended up with a great band and we found [guitarist] Sam Goldberg, who is now a full-time member. On this new record, Sam brings such a melodic sound-- we call him "Stadium Sam," he's our stadium rock guy. And then, in 2008, Andrew and Charlie returned, and we ended up touring the world that whole year. That's when this album's core six-piece formed.
I love the self-titled record to death but it was difficult to make. But that point is so over for us. I don't think we've ever really entered this territory of just feeling amazing about everything like it is right now.


Pitchfork: After working in Toronto with producer Dave Newfeld on You Forgot It In People and Broken Social Scene, you decided to go to Chicago with Tortoise's John McEntire for the new album. How did that come about?
KD: It goes back to when [Stars bassist] Evan Cranley was trying to figure out where to record their album In Our Bedroom After the War, and-- knowing that I was a massive fan-- he just casually said to me, "I spoke to your boy John and he seemed like he was into producing the new Stars album, but we're going to Vancouver." I just kind of spit my cigarette out and was like, "What do you mean? You can work with John McEntire?!"
Then, in October 2008, we fooled around and had a session in John's studio. It was so much fun, and that's when the wheels started turning. So we had to start figuring out what we were going to do in terms of Newf, because there were still issues that I hadn't worked out with him. A bunch of us didn't know how we were going to do this record without Newfeld because he played such a massive, massive role in all our success. He was very involved-- I mean, he used to come on the talkback and suggest lyric changes [laughs]. So we were quite scared to take a lot of it on ourselves. I called Newf up and told him what was going on and he gave his blessing, and that actually was a catalyst for him and I getting back on the same page, which I'm really grateful for because he is one of my favorite people in the world.
Then I suddenly I found myself in a whole different world. Johnny is very, very different. Very quiet. He lets you figure it out. Sometimes we would bust into tunes and be like, [takes deep breath] "OK, let's see what he thinks about this one." We didn't really know how he was feeling about everything for a little while. Then one night a couple of us went out for drinks with him and at about the fourth drink in he started opening up and telling us what he thought about the songs. It became a trend. And then it became sort of a joke-- a band member would come up to me and be like, "I'm really tired and I can't go out tonight but would you ask John how he felt about my part in this song?" [laughs] I consider John a good friend now and I'm happy to say he's joining the band. Obviously, he's still got Sea and Cake and Tortoise-- but when he's free, he's going to come out and play with us. I'm just trying to live my teenage dreams over here, and this was definitely one of them.


Pitchfork: Was it tough to get people like Feist, and members of Stars and Metric involved this time around?
KD: Well, there was a point where it looked like it was going to be a core-member record and we weren't going to get those people because they were so busy; Stars were making a record, Metric was on the road. We thought, "It's OK, we can do this without them. We can move on. It's not like that anymore." But when we brought Johnny to Toronto and set up it was immediately like old times. So, right at the end, everybody made it on.
We played a show in the summertime when all of us were together (http://pitchfork.com/news/35911-broken-social-scene-reunite-star-in-film/) and I think it was our favorite show. After it, there were a few days when we just wished we could go into the studio and do a ground-up album and then take everyone out on the road, but it wasn't in the cards. It wasn't what the others wanted. It gets confusing about who brings what to the album but everyone just came in and put some visiting touches on some songs; a few vocals, horns, guitar lines. I really want to be cautious talking about this because the last few years of my life have been trying to figure out a mature way to not market your friends and overuse people's names and misguide listeners to thinking this person or that person's involved. So: Everyone visited the record, but it's not a ground-up album.
There is one tune where all the ladies sing together-- it was originally my favorite instrumental on the album [laughs]. But [Metric singer] Emily [Haines] came out of the woodwork and dropped a vocal on it and it broke our hearts. Then Charlie wrote a nice e-mail to Leslie [Feist] and [Stars singer] Amy [Millan] saying, "If you sang on this I think it would be really beautiful." And they did and I can't say how grateful I am for it. And in the Toronto sessions we got Les and Amy on a crazy jam with us all, too.
And now we have some new things on the table, too. Like Lisa Lobsinger, who we plucked from her life and dragged onstage during the Broken Social Scene tour and really put her in a serious situation to step up to the plate and suddenly become the female vocalist. She's all over this new record and she's going to come out on tour with us again.


Pitchfork: Would you say the making of this record was more like You Forgot It In People than Broken Social Scene or different entirely?
KD: It's different entirely. We really don't have anything to prove. So many bands have come out in the last five years and sometimes you question your relevancy. But when it locks into place you just keep going. Right now, everyone's in place-- I can't stress that enough. Between Chicago and Toronto we recorded about 42 tunes. Obviously some of them might be a kazoo and an 808 but we got a lot of ideas down.
Pitchfork: Are there any themes running through the album?
KD: The Canadian music scene boomed during the George Bush era but now we're in the "yes, we might be able to" world. We had lots of conversations about how we could sing about our views and opinions without trying to make a poor man's R.E.M. song. It was a challenge to personalize everything and embrace the state of the planet. I love a distraction as much as the next guy but we always feel some urgency to speak about what's going on. I remember when U2's single ["Get On Your Boots"] came out, I thought, "All right, what's it gonna be? What's the man gonna sing about?" And Bono's opening line was like, "I don't wanna talk about politics, I just wanna rock!" And I thought, "Uh oh-- we're in trouble." This is a crazy state of limbo right now and we tried to embrace it and bring those subjects up here and there. We've always been a band that sings about exactly what's inside of us and exactly what's happening outside as well. Like, if we're screaming, let's have something to scream about.



Pitchfork: It sounds like you guys are in a pretty great headspace at the moment.
KD: I can't tell you how happy we are. There are so many exciting albums coming out this year and that's great for us because when we do the festival circuit we get to bum rush the stage. I still have to redeem myself to the National, though. We played a show together in Mexico City and they dedicated a song to me-- and then they stood side stage during our set and saw me screaming at the monitor guy for ten minutes. It's a bit of a regret-- I'm glad they didn't Wayne Coyne me (http://pitchfork.com/news/34765-coyne-on-arcade-fire-theyre-pricks-so-fuck-em/) on that one.
Right now, we have two mottos: "kill 'em with kindness" and, um, "if it's yellow, let it mellow."

Pitchfork: That sounds like a potential album title to me...
KD: [laughs] I'm sure somebody copyrighted "if it's yellow, let it mellow"-- it must be patented.

[Chromefox]

HA, Awesome news Caleb. Too bad it wasn't two weeks later or it's be MY birthday gift.

[quicksilv001]

I'm so fucking stoked for May 4.

[Chromefox]

I'm so fucking stoked to hear the track that features all three ladies.

[theguy77]

may 4th is the new july 4th. broken social scene > fireworks.

[briewer]

may 4th is the new july 4th. broken social scene > fireworks.
Well yeah, everything > fireworks. "OMG colors! And they sparkle! It looks like a flower!" Dumb.

[quicksilv001]

Well yeah, everything > fireworks. "OMG colors! And they sparkle! It looks like a flower!" Dumb.

In that case, Broken Social Scene > everything > fireworks. "OMG everything! It's so much stuff! Oh wow there's a flower in here!" stupid.

[ThisIsNotDan]

May is looking awesome with new albums (The National, Deftones, BSS, etc.) really REALLY stoked

[GuitarR0cker1]

Wow look at that list of guest appearances.

[moosehas spoken]

I'm pretty sure I first heard them in the movie Half Nelson. They're pretty good.

[drudo182]

Can't wait for the new album.

[jbaseball44]

Pretty cool album artwork

[IntoTheSun]

Relatively new to this band, but the new single is incredible. I am really looking forward to this release.

[MyWorldEntire]

The single is very good.

[quicksilv001]

New song is fantastic. I am ten times more excited for the new album now.

[GuitarR0cker1]

To Be You and Me is a great EP.

[Chromefox]

I am abstaining from World Sick until the album's release.

[theguy77]

as am i. its tempting though. nice to hear that so many people think its quality.

[GuitarR0cker1]

THE BIG GUNS ARE COMING OUT! THE BIG GUNS ARE COMIN OUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

x

[DeusExMachina]

Giving "you forgot it in the people" a listen. Really like it. Do they have any other releases? This is my first time listening to them.

EDIT: haha, I'm really digging the drums. This is great.

[FullCollaspe]

Love love love Cause=Time, my favorite song from this band

[GuitarR0cker1]

Am I the only one that likes the fast version of Major Label Debut more than the originial one?

[will_to_burn]

Does anyone have the live NPR set, from Washington? It's just awesome. Two hours of a concert!

[Chromefox]

They have a self-titled album, and then Feel Good Lost, which is their first and is mostly instrumental and pretty self indulgent.

Am I the only one that likes the fast version of Major Label Debut more than the originial one? Haven't heard it, but I'd like to.

[cshadows2887]

First listen to one of their records didn't light a fire, but they're a band that might benefit from repeat listens.

[Chromefox]

Which album did you pick?

[cshadows2887]

Left It in People

[Chromefox]

Cute.

YFIIP tends to be the most preferred album, but S/T might be your thing if this one doesn't catch on.

[cshadows2887]

Oh shit. Def mixed up You Forgot It in People with Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans, which I followed it up with. Now I feel dumb.

And I'll definitely check out the S/T. I didn't dislike YFIIP by any means, it just didn't really jump out at me, you know?

[Chromefox]

I definitely understand. I'm a S/T fan myself.

[cshadows2887]

Gracias for the recc, btw.

[Chromefox]

Anytime.

[IntoTheSun]

I like the single more and more everytime I hear it. New album is gonna be awesome.

[bowl of oranges]

Very stoked for the new record, I'm pre-ordering it today.

[will_to_burn]

I'm going to wait until it drops to listen. The day it comes out I'm having a friend over to listen to it all day, along with older BSS!

[c_rob2700]

I already have the entire (birth)day planned out. Skipping school, going to my local record store and picking it up as well as the new New Pornographers and Hold Steady albums. Then, I plan on spending the entire day listening to all three. Maybe buy a cigar or something just because I (legally) can.

WILL BE A GREAT EFFING DAY

[Kid B]

Am I the only one that likes the fast version of Major Label Debut more than the originial one?

I think the fast version is the original, actually. I agree that the fast version is superior. I don't like the one on-record very much.

[Kid B]

The new album is going to rule. World Sick is damn good.

[theguy77]

You Forgot It In People should end on "lover's spit". it's not that i don't enjoy the last two songs, i definitely do, but i just ended the album when that song was over because my roommate came home and i had it on speakers, and i have that resolved and content feeling you get when you just finished a really good album, without listening to the last two. that song makes an excellent closer, they carry on the mood and atmosphere just the RIGHT amount.

[jbaseball44]

I do believe we have a leak

[Chromefox]

Oh dear. Have you listened?

[jbaseball44]

Listened once, it's good.

[Chromefox]

Good to hear. I'll probably stay away from the leak though.

[Chromefox]

I lied. I might be about to listen to this right now. I heard too many good things about it to stay away.

[Chromefox]

Enormous disappointment.

[theguy77]

yeah this album blows. more detailed synopsis of my feelings here:

http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=65679232#post65679 232

i started writing that when i was halfway through but nothing changed, i felt exactly the same as that whole post explains.

[Chromefox]

Enormous disappointment.

[jbaseball44]

I mean it isn't You Forgot It In People, but I still think it's a good album that is about on par with their self-titled (which I think is decent).

[theguy77]

the self-titled is way better for me.

[Chromefox]

S/T is far superior. FRR was practically an uninspired effort at commercializing a sound for BSS.

[IntoTheSun]

Wow, really? I enjoyed it. Will be reading Ryan's tl;dr post hahaha.

[Chromefox]

I can't get over the fact that it took them 22 musicians and one producer to make an album that sounds like it was written by 4 musicians and a producer. So stupid.

[jbaseball44]

Didn't know the self-titled was held in such high regards on here, I find it to be just decent.

[Chromefox]

S/T is probably only held in such high regard by myself and Ryan. It's my favourite BSS record; I don't care so much for You Forgot It.

[then i was like]

I felt just alright about Forgiveness Rock Record originally... but after listening a few times I really love it. Still doesn't compare to YFiiP or s/t, but there are some really great tracks on there.

[El_Jeffe]

I felt just alright about Forgiveness Rock Record originally... but after listening a few times I really love it. Still doesn't compare to YFiiP or s/t, but there are some really great tracks on there.

I'm exactly the same. I think as soon as I stopped comparing it to their other works I could enjoy it more for what it was, it's almost too different to compare. A lot of people have the problem of not listening to any album from a band that isn't their highest acclaimed work, which is odd, but each to their own. This album has been growing on me also.

[Chromefox]

After seeing Pitchfork give FRR an BNM rating, I'm really getting a grasp of peoples' complaints about them BNMing boring, overrated albums.

[jbaseball44]

It was just obvious they were going to force it into being BNM, while i don't hate the record like you do (i would give it a 7 even) it is certainly not that good. But you knew that since they were performing at Pitchfork Music festival it would get BNM

[Chromefox]

Well yeah. If BSS didn't write this album, I think it would have received a 6 or a 7 at best, but the site is sympathetic to this band.

[jbaseball44]

Smells like the infamous Wilco (the Album) review

[IntoTheSun]

After seeing Pitchfork give FRR an BNM rating, I'm really getting a grasp of peoples' complaints about them BNMing boring, overrated albums.

I went on there today thinking they were going to give it a 7 or something, haha.

I feel like it's true to an extent that play it safe on some of the BNM awarded, such as the "boring" and fluffy Local Natives or VW. But at the same time some deservedly recognized albums (in my opinion, of course) like Owen Pallett's Heartland or the new Tallest Man are certainly not dull and overrated. The way I see it is, they're attempting to strike a balance on the site between the more commercialized indie and the stuff more in-depth listeners like. It's a bit annoying to see that, but at the same time, as more and more indie culture is fed into the mainstream, it's almost inevitable. Whatever, I haven't really followed p4k much until recently anyway, so I don't know how BNM's were before.

[xJesusFreakx]

Well, on that note, maybe giving safe albums like this BNM is good for the other albums that they give BNM to. If someone goes to the site and sees that something like this got a low score, they'll think, "Oh, Pitchfork sure is pretentious and elitist, only caring about obscure music" (a stereotype that already exists to some extent), but if people see that their favorite safe indie releases are rated highly, won't they then be more interested in the unknown bands that also receive this distinction? Yeah, I'd say even Pitchfork has to worry about some safe name drops to pull in a certain demographic.

[IntoTheSun]

It seems like it's a way to keep a portion of their readers who like those "safe indie releases" happy, while appearing to be insincere and pandering to another portion of their readers. Dunno, why are we overanalyzing this? :-d

[xJesusFreakx]

Why not? That is the better question.

[theguy77]

i don't generally agree with pitchfork's opinions on pop music. my circles of fun, casual music are far away from theirs. it's the more esoteric/stylistically focused/self-indulgent material where i find that pitchfork can handpick artists with skills and sounds i'd never imagine blending together so brilliantly.

[kyle is hk]

EDIT: This contest is now over.

Your Goal: Turn me on to Broken Social Scene.
How to Do it: Suggest 3 songs by them to me- whether you go with best songs or most accessible I dont care.
Go.

[Chromefox]

I definitely think you guys are overanalyzing it, haha. Pitchfork's hyped a heap of safe-indie, unknown or otherwise in the last few months, and they tend to be very lenient* with artists that they have a history of loving.

*suck the cocks of.

[cshadows2887]

I definitely think you guys are overanalyzing it, haha. Pitchfork's hyped a heap of safe-indie, unknown or otherwise in the last few months, and they tend to be very lenient* with artists that they have a history of loving.

*suck the cocks of.

They did a pretty shit job fellating The Hold Steady's new one. And they've historically liked them a lot. Definite blue balls.

[Chromefox]

Maybe the reviewer was PMSing? I dunno. You've got to take Pitchfork with a grain of salt and not treat them like gospel, but other than that they're still a very good resource.

[cshadows2887]

I take them with a shaker of salt. But I take most professional sources that way. They lean much further away from the mainstream than I care for. I'd be much more likely to check something out because someone I like on here reccomended it than any publication.

[Chromefox]

Fair enough, and I do take user recs into account, but it's good for those albums that not a lot of people talk about as well. I dunno, I just comb through stuff randomly. Have had a lot of great hits, plenty of forgettable stuff, but it's all been a worthwhile experience.

[theguy77]

I take them with a shaker of salt. But I take most professional sources that way. They lean much further away from the mainstream than I care for. I'd be much more likely to check something out because someone I like on here reccomended it than any publication.

this definitely. i may be interested what pitchfork thought of something, and you can either get a good review or a pretentious, shallowly amusing one on that site, so i tend to read their thoughts but i dont put any stock in them, really.

[cshadows2887]

this definitely. i may be interested what pitchfork thought of something, and you can either get a good review or a pretentious, shallowly amusing one on that site, so i tend to read their thoughts but i dont put any stock in them, really.

Really. Good reviews aren't what got me to listen to Sea Change. It was you always repping it back in the day. Or Andrea mentioning she liked Stars. Or quite a few ppl I like on here loving KDev. That means more than a critic any day.

[theguy77]

Really. Good reviews aren't what got me to listen to Sea Change. It was you always repping it back in the day. Or Andrea mentioning she liked Stars. Or quite a few ppl I like on here loving KDev. That means more than a critic any day.

yeah no artist i listen to came from some reviewer's thoughts, they were all either from William Doyle or someone i really enjoy talking to on this site.

[Chromefox]

I don't tend to put a lot of stock into anyone's thoughts, for the most part.

[cshadows2887]

Once the record is on, it's al fair game. Nobody's opinions matter. But as far as what will get me interested to checksomething out, other people's reccomendations mean a lot.

[theguy77]

Once the record is on, it's al fair game. Nobody's opinions matter. But as far as what will get me interested to checksomething out, other people's reccomendations mean a lot.

exactly, i never really feel pressure to like something because someone else does. if i just dont get the hype, even if it was recommended by people whose tastes i respect, i'm honest with myself about it.

[cshadows2887]

exactly, i never really feel pressure to like something because someone else does. if i just dont get the hype, even if it was recommended by people whose tastes i respect, i'm honest with myself about it.

Amen. Though I do try to give at least one good second listen to something that a lot of people whose tastes I trust have reccomended. I do the same for movies. I figure there's a reason people like it, one more spin won't kill me.

[theguy77]

Amen. Though I do try to give at least one good second listen to something that a lot of people whose tastes I trust have reccomended. I do the same for movies. I figure there's a reason people like it, one more spin won't kill me.

this happens for me in some instances but only if either 1) it's one of those albums EVERYONE i love seems to enjoy, like the national's Boxer and the antlers' Hospice, or 2) if it's radically different from my tastes and has an aspect in the music that really intrigues me even if i dont get into it right away. most the time my first listen is a damn good judge of whether i'll like something or not. changing the context helps as well, sometimes things sound WAY better and can rub you the right way when you listen to them on speakers or in the car or with a loved one who enjoys it.

[cshadows2887]

this happens for me in some instances but only if either 1) it's one of those albums EVERYONE i love seems to enjoy, like the national's Boxer and the antlers' Hospice, or 2) if it's radically different from my tastes and has an aspect in the music that really intrigues me even if i dont get into it right away. most the time my first listen is a damn good judge of whether i'll like something or not. changing the context helps as well, sometimes things sound WAY better and can rub you the right way when you listen to them on speakers or in the car or with a loved one who enjoys it.

See for me, it's usually a matter of time. I used to hate Elvis Costello, now, with all the stuff I've listened to since my initial listening I love him. And I used to find Cheap Trick boring, but now that I listen to a ton of power-pop I adore it.

[theguy77]

See for me, it's usually a matter of time. I used to hate Elvis Costello, now, with all the stuff I've listened to since my initial listening I love him. And I used to find Cheap Trick boring, but now that I listen to a ton of power-pop I adore it.

it sounds to me like your tastes are changing and you're starting to learn to appreciate things in music that just werent happening for you before.

[cshadows2887]

it sounds to me like your tastes are changing and you're starting to learn to appreciate things in music that just werent happening for you before.

True, but isn't everyone's? I can't imagine my tastes ever being static. They've been continually changing since I was four. And every new thing I listen to helps me understand, contextualize or appreciate a whole bunch of other artists. Taste is a snowball, and I love it.

[Chromefox]

I love stuff now that alienated me two years ago. I'm always willing to give something I didn't "get" another shot after enough time has passed that I forget why I didn't like it.

[theguy77]

True, but isn't everyone's? I can't imagine my tastes ever being static. They've been continually changing since I was four. And every new thing I listen to helps me understand, contextualize or appreciate a whole bunch of other artists. Taste is a snowball, and I love it.

my tastes were the exact same for years. i tend to latch onto a few bands and get attached to them and listen to them for a really long time until im starting to not feel anything from them anymore, and sometimes it takes awhile for me to really commit to moving on to the next sets of bands. i dont really know why. ive been listening to lots of new music lately though.

[cshadows2887]

my tastes were the exact same for years. i tend to latch onto a few bands and get attached to them and listen to them for a really long time until im starting to not feel anything from them anymore, and sometimes it takes awhile for me to really commit to moving on to the next sets of bands. i dont really know why. ive been listening to lots of new music lately though.

I get upset when albums lose their magic for me, so I'm constantly on the hunt for something new. LaLa shutting down has really gotten me inspired the last few weeks though. I've listened to SO much stuff I had been putting off. The best part is that you never run out, because there's 50 years of music (at minimum) in which to explore, while bands you love continue to release new material. Every time I feel myself getting into a music rut, I just wait a month and there's a slew of new stuff to listen to.

[cshadows2887]

I love stuff now that alienated me two years ago. I'm always willing to give something I didn't "get" another shot after enough time has passed that I forget why I didn't like it.

Example or two? This kind of stuff fascinates me for some reason.

[theguy77]

I get upset when albums lose their magic for me, so I'm constantly on the hunt for something new. LaLa shutting down has really gotten me inspired the last few weeks though. I've listened to SO much stuff I had been putting off. The best part is that you never run out, because there's 50 years of music (at minimum) in which to explore, while bands you love continue to release new material. Every time I feel myself getting into a music rut, I just wait a month and there's a slew of new stuff to listen to.

exactly there's probably 30 or more artists and over a hundred albums ive been meaning to get into for the longest time. i'm at no shortage.

[cshadows2887]

exactly there's probably 30 or more artists and over a hundred albums ive been meaning to get into for the longest time. i'm at no shortage.

Tonight alone I've gone from Stars to Beck to Gil Scott-Heron to Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. No monotony for me. Love it.

[theguy77]

Example or two? This kind of stuff fascinates me for some reason.

3 years ago radiohead and american analog set did nothing for me.

[Chromefox]

Example or two? This kind of stuff fascinates me for some reason. Bjork is a really big example. I downloaded her discog a couple of years ago and after 10 tracks or something, deleted all of it because it was clear it just wasn't my thing at the time. Now I love her.

I'm having a hard time thinking of other examples, because in a lot of cases, like with Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans, I was just bored by it and didn't go back to it, and again, favourite Sufjan album now, and I'm a pretty big Sufjan fan.

[cshadows2887]

Bjork is a really big example. I downloaded her discog a couple of years ago and after 10 tracks or something, deleted all of it because it was clear it just wasn't my thing at the time. Now I love her.

I'm having a hard time thinking of other examples, because in a lot of cases, like with Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans, I was just bored by it and didn't go back to it, and again, favourite Sufjan album now, and I'm a pretty big Sufjan fan.

Nice. Yeah, I had the exact same feeling about Seven Swans which makes me think maybe I should revisit it too. Haha.

[cshadows2887]

3 years ago radiohead and american analog set did nothing for me.

:jawdrop:

[theguy77]

Nice. Yeah, I had the exact same feeling about Seven Swans which makes me think maybe I should revisit it too. Haha.

have you given Illinois a listen?

[cshadows2887]

have you given Illinois a listen?

Yeah. I've listened to each of his records once, determined I'm going to buy them (at which point I stop listening so I can enjoy them later) and am yet to find one for like 16 bucks. Haha. Which record has "For the Widows in Paradise"? An ex turned me on to that song and it still knocks the wind out of me when I listen.

[theguy77]

:jawdrop:

yup. listened to OK computer and just didn't understand what i was hearing. hahaha, here's the explanation from a facebook note i made

"likely because the album opening with "airbag"s freeform soundscapes and the really unusual chords of "paranoid android" alienated me a lot, as someone who thought Brand New was the best thing music could offer. such a massive surprise that they'd become my absolute favorite band 2 years later."

[theguy77]

Yeah. I've listened to each of his records once, determined I'm going to buy them (at which point I stop listening so I can enjoy them later) and am yet to find one for like 16 bucks. Haha. Which record has "For the Widows in Paradise"? An ex turned me on to that song and it still knocks the wind out of me when I listen.

yeah that's Seven Swans. that album is fantastic in it's own right, but Illinois is just one of the most incredible albums of the decade easily.

[cshadows2887]

yup. listened to OK computer and just didn't understand what i was hearing. hahaha, here's the explanation from a facebook note i made

"likely because the album opening with "airbag"s freeform soundscapes and the really unusual chords of "paranoid android" alienated me a lot, as someone who thought Brand New was the best thing music could offer. such a massive surprise that they'd become my absolute favorite band 2 years later."

Fun story. My buddy bought Ok Computer to try and impress somoene when he was younger. Then when we both got into nu-metal in HS, he went to sell it back and the clerk got mad at him. "You sure you want to sell this back? You really don't. If you sell this back, you're fucking stupid." My friend was so pissed...until a few years later when he realized that clerk was right.

And yeah, whenever I find Illinoise for less than 16 bucks, I'm definitely picking it up.

[Chromefox]

yeah that's Seven Swans. that album is fantastic in it's own right, but Illinois is just one of the most incredible albums of the decade easily. No it isn't.

It's Michigan.

[theguy77]

Fun story. My buddy bought Ok Computer to try and impress somoene when he was younger. Then when we both got into nu-metal in HS, he went to sell it back and the clerk got mad at him. "You sure you want to sell this back? You really don't. If you sell this back, you're fucking stupid." My friend was so pissed...until a few years later when he realized that clerk was right.

hahahahahaha, classic

And yeah, whenever I find Illinoise for less than 16 bucks, I'm definitely picking it up.
have you tried amazon yet? no shame in a used copy. i'd say its worth the expense though, personally. the album is so substantial that it's going to last you quite awhile, not something that really fades out. in fact, since it's so dense and moves so quickly for a lot of the time, in ways its a grower because it takes a little while just to comprehend everything you're hearing. at least, it did for me, but his brilliant voice and the excellent underlying songwriting always appealed to me, and it was so intriguing to hear such luscious symphonic arrangements even if i couldn't keep up with them at first, so i just kept listening, and it just got better and better and better.

[cshadows2887]

hahahahahaha, classic


have you tried amazon yet? no shame in a used copy. i'd say its worth the expense though, personally. the album is so substantial that it's going to last you quite awhile, not something that really fades out. in fact, since it's so dense and moves so quickly for a lot of the time, in ways its a grower because it takes a little while just to comprehend everything you're hearing. at least, it did for me, but his brilliant voice and the excellent underlying songwriting always appealed to me, and it was so intriguing to hear such luscious symphonic arrangements even if i couldn't keep up with them at first, so i just kept listening, and it just got better and better and better.

Same store a guy ridiculed him for buying a Kiss record. Held it up and was like "Yo Joe, look! Some kid's actually buying a Kiss record!"

And I've checked amazon, but my usual rule is not to buy anything on amazon over two dollars used. probabl;y 80% of my 900 CD's came used, but I have so much music I want to get that I try to be economical.

[theguy77]

No it isn't.

It's Michigan.

OOPS hahahaha my bad. yeah, that IS michigan.

[Chromefox]

Same store a guy ridiculed him for buying a Kiss record. Held it up and was like "Yo Joe, look! Some kid's actually buying a Kiss record!"

And I've checked amazon, but my usual rule is not to buy anything on amazon over two dollars used. probabl;y 80% of my 900 CD's came used, but I have so much music I want to get that I try to be economical. The used CDs aren't trash though, and if they are, the state of them will be described as "poor" or "fair" or something. "Very good" and "like new" are well worth all of what, 10 bucks you spend on them, shipping included? I get all my albums off of Amazon used now. Only had trouble once and the seller refunded me after I slapped them on the wrist.

[cshadows2887]

The used CDs aren't trash though, and if they are, the state of them will be described as "poor" or "fair" or something. "Very good" and "like new" are well worth all of what, 10 bucks you spend on them, shipping included? I get all my albums off of Amazon used now. Only had trouble once and the seller refunded me after I slapped them on the wrist.

I'm picky about the case not being destroyed and stuff, so I basically just go on, find anything that's "Very good" for two dollars or less and scoop up about 20 bucks worth in a sitting. The rest I either go pick up at a record store when I have the itch, or I wait for the price to come down.

[Chromefox]

I'm picky about the case not being destroyed and stuff, so I basically just go on, find anything that's "Very good" for two dollars or less and scoop up about 20 bucks worth in a sitting. The rest I either go pick up at a record store when I have the itch, or I wait for the price to come down. Yeah, I'm really picky about that too, but it's more often than not that I receive a perfectly fine album, artwork and case intact as well.

[cshadows2887]

Yeah, I'm really picky about that too, but it's more often than not that I receive a perfectly fine album, artwork and case intact as well.

ME too, but the few times it's fucked up is enough to make me wary. I bought a "Like New" copy of Nina Simone's A Single Woman and the case was literally cracked into little bits.

[Chromefox]

ME too, but the few times it's fucked up is enough to make me wary. I bought a "Like New" copy of Nina Simone's A Single Woman and the case was literally cracked into little bits. That could easily have been the result of shipping though. A bubble pack is not negligence proof, hahaha.

[cshadows2887]

That could easily have been the result of shipping though. A bubble pack is not negligence proof, hahaha.

Actually, thats true. Maybe I've been harboring biterness towards the wrong source all this time. Still the CD and the art were in decent shape. I just swapped the jewel case with a Creed CD gathering dust eternally in my closet.

[Chromefox]

Actually, thats true. Maybe I've been harboring biterness towards the wrong source all this time. Still the CD and the art were in decent shape. I just swapped the jewel case with a Creed CD gathering dust eternally in my closet. That's what I do when the jewel cases come damaged, and from what I understand, you can buy replacement cases for cheap. I'll pretty much always have crappy albums to rotate around though.

[cshadows2887]

That's what I do when the jewel cases come damaged, and from what I understand, you can buy replacement cases for cheap. I'll pretty much always have crappy albums to rotate around though.

I have a weird system. If it's on my shelf, then I own it, but there's some old stuff from when I was 7 (Ace of Base, MAriah Carey, Billy Ray Cyrus) that stays in the closet and is not a part of my official collection. I occasionally "promote" stuff from there though like Boyz II Men and Alanis Morissette back to the real collection when I realize I was an idiot. But I've recently been purging a lot of shit to sell back, so those closet pristine jewel cases might be gone.

[Chromefox]

I have a weird system. If it's on my shelf, then I own it, but there's some old stuff from when I was 7 (Ace of Base, MAriah Carey, Billy Ray Cyrus) that stays in the closet and is not a part of my official collection. I occasionally "promote" stuff from there though like Boyz II Men and Alanis Morissette back to the real collection when I realize I was an idiot. But I've recently been purging a lot of shit to sell back, so those closet pristine jewel cases might be gone. That's almost exactly like my own system, even some of the same crappy artists, but without the occasional promotion. Hahaha.

[cshadows2887]

That's almost exactly like my own system, even some of the same crappy artists, but without the occasional promotion. Hahaha.

Well there was a time that I still gave a shit what other people thought. Eventually I stopped caring and realized "If I like Boyz II Men, there is absolutely no reason it shouldn't be on my shelf and my ipod."

[Chromefox]

Well there was a time that I still gave a shit what other people thought. Eventually I stopped caring and realized "If I like Boyz II Men, there is absolutely no reason it shouldn't be on my shelf and my ipod." Yeah, but I don't still like Ace of Base.

[cshadows2887]

Yeah, but I don't still like Ace of Base.

Haha, nor do I. I put it in my pile of CD's to sell back and my dad grabbed it and went "mine now." Haha.

[IntoTheSun]

"likely because the album opening with "airbag"s freeform soundscapes and the really unusual chords of "paranoid android" alienated me a lot, as someone who thought Brand New was the best thing music could offer. such a massive surprise that they'd become my absolute favorite band 2 years later."

This is absolutely hilarious, but not in the way you'd like it to be. Someone's humor is rubbing off on me, clearly.

[theguy77]

yeah im listening to Feel Good Lost for the first time, and am absolutely LOVING it. did not expect a slowcore/post-rock album, i was always hoping to find something else that gives me the same feeling that american analog set gives me, but i definitely didn't expect to find it in broken social scene. having a third album that i really enjoy by them and that produces a totally different mood than the other two solidifies my love for this band, and you know, now i feel like i can forgive that rock record pun intended even though it lacked character.

[GuitarR0cker1]

TFffJgaxzpc

[theguy77]

TFffJgaxzpc

yes this was fucking awesome. i want to make Lisa Lobsinger's babies.

[drewinseries]

Just grabbed You Forgot It In People today after many recommendations for it. Angry that it took me this long to pick it up. So far it seems to be a great record.

[theguy77]

it's so easy to put YFIP on. it's an album that's excellent both when i'm in the mood for something i can jam to, and when i just want to relax and hear nice melodies. they really wrote a diverse collection of songs, and the sound/recording of the album is completely its own.