I'm going to steal the idea from Tessa's movie ratings thread over in GD.

I've been listening to a lot of albums for the first time lately. It's quite exciting!

Here are my takes.

Interpol- Antics

B+

A lot of people have been drooling over this album and despite having it for awhile, I didn't listen to it until recently. Although I liked Interpol, I never knew if I would grow to love them. Listening to Antics leaves the question as is. It is a good album, but I don't know if I'd call it great... yet. "Narc" is my favorite with those delicious ninths in the bass. "Evil" and "Slow Hands" are other favorites. I'm going to have to listen some more to consolidate my opinion.

Annie- Anniemal

A+

This is a much heralded pop album that deserves the acclaim. This album has been my mantra for a few months now and I've needed its inspiration. I've already gushed about this album in other threads, so I'll leave it at that.

Roxy Music- Stranded

A-/B+

Having heard and loved Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure and Avalon and liked Siren, I knew I was becoming a fan. Stranded was my next listen. I was a bit concerned about the direction the band would take after Eno left, fearing a venture into more conventional territory. Although it isn't quite as experimental as the first two, Stranded indeed holds its own. "Street Life" has that signature strut. "Song for Europe" and "Psalm" are gorgeous semi-spiritual opuses. "Mother of Pearl" is quite the whirlwind.

LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem

B+

Having had success with some fairly blind buys like Louden Up Now by !!!, I decided to give in to the hype and buy LCD Soundsystem. It delivers pretty well. The first disc contains all new material and starts with a bang with "Daft Punk is Playing in My House". The first 4 tracks are all pretty warped electronic barrages, appealing to the synth freak in me. The album starts to drag a bit toward the end, but not before leaving me pretty impressed. The second disc contains previously released singles without a parent album. "Losing My Edge" is a wondrous snipe at hipster snobbery while "Yeah (Crass Version)" is an utterly fierce assault of blistering synths and a funky bass. The 9 minutes of that song are bliss.

Pretenders- Pretenders

A

I picked up a greatest hits compilation of theirs years ago and enjoyed it but never made it my own, so to speak. I knew that the debut album was where I wanted to begin but only tracked it down recently. It was well worth the wait. Ms. Hynde and Co. really pack a punch here. "Precious" is such a strident "fuck-off" that I can't resist it. Of course "Brass in Pocket" is an utter gem. However, the album delivers with so many tracks I had never heard. "Private Life" is my favorite on the album, with its persistent groove just oozing with cool. The last 2 tracks close the album with a bang. "Lovers of Today" is simply gorgeous and "Mystery Achievement" is a rocker that just won't let go of my guts.

Talking Heads- Remain in Light

A-

I fell in love with Speaking in Tongues last year with its deliberate funk. I bought Remain in Light because I've heard it's their crowning achievement. I was a bit afraid that it would be too obtuse for me. The only song I knew- "Once in a Lifetime" wasn't exactly a favorite of mine. I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be my least favorite of the 8 tracks. David Byrne's vocals haven't been the easiest to digest for me, but so many on this album are stunningly haunted. I will definitely have to listen more.

The Human League- Travelogue

B/B- (tentatively)

Synths? New Wave? Classic 80s? Right up my alley! I quite like many of the League's songs but had only heard 2 studio albums- the classic Dare! and the singles-heavy Secrets. I have many others but have yet to listen to them. Travelogue was the first I tried. While I was listening, I was in the process of grading student homework. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but I wasn't blown away. Some of the bonus tracks (I have the yummy remaster) grabbed me more than most of the album. I know there's a League fan in me waiting to come out, so I'll have to listen again.

My apologies to the moderators for my previous attempt to post this. My computer went crazy.

Parliament- Mothership Connection

A-

This is another album I've had for a long time but just got around to hearing. Always knowing that I would love P-Funk, I chose to start here and it delivered as expected. The grooves are straight up nasty and the sci-fi jabberwocky seems to be a metaphor for African American unity. The title track, which I had never heard, blew me away.

If I had anything interesting to add, you know I would. But I've been musically monogamous since my birthday.

So...?
What do we do now?
Comment on you ratings?
Rate our purchases?
Dance the night away?

PANDURITO said:

Do what'cha gotta do. Rate your own purchases if you like!

i'm completely in love with the 11 minute 'pretentious' version of 'yeah'. the first time i heard it, i immediately burned a CD of JUST THAT SONG to give to TOFKA that night, because it was extremely important to me that she heard it as soon as possible, preferably in her car. that song kicks so much ass, both versions really, but the pretentious mix is my fave. i like the LCD album, though i agree with you. it drags in places. but i gotta tell ya - it's great housecleaning music for a saturday afternoon.

by the way, there's a good three-disc DJ mix compilation by LCD soundsystem that you should pick up sometime - i got it as a christmas gift, and it's a lot of fun. it's the first place i heard the 'yeah' mixes, but there's tons and tons more stuff on it like that.

Moonbeam said:

I have to agree with you here. At first before you played her for me I was like, "Here we go...another Minogue". But she's definitely got her own thing going. I like it. I wish there was more dance music like this happening.

Ian, check out Roisin Murphy's Sequins EP's. Can't say it often enough.

For full description; there is a thread dedicated to her...

GangstaFam said:

nobody will tell me what her whole deal is. i guess i'll have to do some research on this chick.

Moonbeam: Have you ever thought of writing reviews for Pitchfork.com? I think they pay you for this kinda thing, ya know. At the very least, I think they send ya free stuff to review.

Grace Jones- The Collection

A-

For a long time, I've been interested in crazy Grace. I bought a few tapes hit or miss but didn't have a breakthrough until I bought and loved Nightclubbing. Unsure of where to go next and limited by availability, I found The Collection in Australia, a compilation of her tracks focusing on the 80-82 period. Although there are some odd omissions ("Pull Up to the Bumper" anyone?), it's great! "Nipple to the Bottle" and "Love Is the Drug" are quite delicious, but "La Vie en Rose" and "Living My Life" totally rocked my socks. I now know that Living My Life and Warm Leatherette are the next conquests for me, so the collection has served its purpose.

Echo and the Bunnymen- Crocodiles

B+/B

On a whim, I bought the first 4 Echo albums in their remastered glory. I had to see what this other Ian business was all about. The first album I listened to was Crocodiles and I was quite pleased. They came out of the gate fully formed with this album, but something is holding me back from completely loving it. I'll have to spin it some more.

Echo and the Bunnymen- Heaven Up Here

B-

Their second album is a bit of a mystery for me. It isn't nearly as accessible as the other 3 that I have, which is fine, but I'll need to work on this one.

Echo and the Bunnymen- Porcupine

A-/B+

OK, so this one already starts with an edge for being named after one of my favorite animals. Porcupine aptly portrays its wintry cover and songs like the title track, "Clay" and "The Cutter" are right up my alley.

Echo and the Bunnymen- Ocean Rain

A-

I guess Ian called this "the greatest album ever recorded." That it's not, but it is probably the best of their first 4- delicious melodies and a newly found elegance.

Anxiety said:

The pretentious version is killer too, but I think I prefer the more gnarled crass version with its ridiculous synth assault. I was in fact cleaning when I listened to the album, so I have to agree with you on that.

I'll have to look out for the 3-disc set.

Moonbeam said:

i'd go with 'the compass point sessions' next, even before 'warm leatherette' and 'nightclubbing'. it's all the grace you really need, they remastered the tracks beautifully, and you get all kinds of demos and remixes. i have a bunch of grace jones albums, and 'compass point' is the one i listen to about 95% of the time.

Moonbeam said:

Have you heard I Lost Control yet?

HamsterHuey said:

I'll have to suss out your thread!

GangstaFam said:

It is SUCH a breath of fresh air. Anxy, I dedicated a whole thread to her with my rather lengthy album review and other goodies here.

Anxiety said:

I don't know if I'd want to write for a vocation (even a part-time one). I like being freelance. I do tend to gush on and on in my reviews over at http://www.rateyourmusic.com/~Moonbeam .

Anxiety said:

Thanks for the heads up. I think I've seen that at a store in Detroit.
[Edited 4/20/05 12:08pm]

Moonbeam said:

I believe Pitchfork IS freelance. Unless you just dig on having your own kind of editorial vibe to write and post and publish to the web as you wanna. That I can understand. I'm just being a journo, that's all.

HamsterHuey said:

Yes, her version is hysterical! She really has lost control!
[Edited 4/20/05 12:07pm]

Anxiety said:

I don't know if my reviews are good enough to merit publication on an official site, but I may look into it.

Moonbeam said:

I still think you should sign up with AllMusicGuide. After all, they are centered in Ann Arbor. They'd take you in a heartbeat.

Moonbeam said:

I nearly messed myself the first time I heard that.

GangstaFam said:

There's no way that I know enough music to feel qualified to write for them.

Moonbeam said:

It isn't like that. Stephen Thomas Erlewine may know everything, but for most styles, it's more specific to a certain writer. You'd find your niche there and would fit in just fine. I think it'd be worth a try at least. I know I could do it too and would maybe even be good at it. I just don't think I'd like it. You probably would.

GangstaFam said:

Yeah- me and my endless ratings. I'd probably get into trouble rating Kylie's albums 5 stars. If they let me run rampant, who knows what damage I could do.

Moonbeam said:

Well, I don't know if they'd let you rewrite/rate pre-existing stuff. But you could totally turn the tide on everything current.

GangstaFam said:

I'd still probably get into trouble rating new things 5 stars. It seems they aren't allowed to rate something that highly until at least 5 years have passed and the concensus agrees.

Moonbeam said:

A fucking +

This was my soundtrack in Hawaii. It may not be as immediately shocking as the 2 Eno records, but that could be because I knew those first. But I find it every bit as innovative and breathtaking. The songs are broader and more beautiful. I think the refinement of their sound may make this an even better record, which is a surprise. I definitely wasn't giving Brian Ferry enough credit.