Get Rec'd Round 6
Modest Mouse, TWIABP, cLOUDDEAD, Townes Van Zandt, OM
I had so much fun listening to your recommendations that I decided to review all of them. Please bear in mind that I’m not familiar with many of the artists and musical styles I’m reviewing, and therefore my opinions are often misinformed and don’t matter.
Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
After a long hiatus, I’m back for another round of listening to your recommendations and then posting my knee-jerk reactions to them. And what better way to start than with an album I’ve been putting off listening to since 1997. In my defense, I wasn’t aware of the band’s existence until their 2004 hit “Float On” graced the airwaves, but I’ve always heard good things about “The Lonesome Crowded West.” A ton of my favorite bands have listed Modest Mouse as an influence, so I’m not sure why it has taken so long to get around to listening to them.
I’m enjoying this on first listen. It has that 90s lofi charm that I’ve grown to appreciate over the years. Noodly, mathy guitars that swirl all over the place. A truly fantastic snare tone. It’s almost post-hardcore at times, especially when the vocalist starts reaching for the uglier notes.
I like that you never know what’s coming next moving from one track to the next. I have to admire the band’s ambition here, with a runtime of 73 minutes (a bit too long) and no shortage of ideas.
What surprised me most about this record is just how bleak and angry it is. I think “Shit Luck” should be the theme song for 2025.
Favorite track: Heart Cooks Brain
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Whenever, If Ever (2013)
And I call myself an emo fan. In my ongoing quest to finally listen to all of the classic “emo revival” albums of the 2010s, it’s about time I got around to listening to this. Cartoonishly long band name notwithstanding, I’ve been looking forward to this one.
For starters, I was not expecting this to sound so much like Explosions in the Sky. That’s not an altogether unpleasant surprise. As is the case with so many emo albums, your enjoyment of the music is largely going to depend on your tolerance for the vocals. As a fellow whiny, nasally singer I don’t particularly mind it, but the lyrics are largely unintelligible for most of the album.
Musically, I enjoy the variety in the instrumentation and the unique combination of post-rock and emo in similar vein to The Appleseed Cast or early Moving Mountains. I like that they’ve condensed the post-rock elements into shorter tracks without getting too bogged down in a single idea.
That said, I think I’m beginning to outgrow some of the more melodramatic elements of this style of emo, but if I had been paying attention 10 years ago I’m sure this album would have hit much harder.
Favorite track: Heartbeat in the Brain
cLOUDDEAD - cLOUDDEAD (2001)
I’m a huge fan of 90s trip-hop, but I’ve never taken much time to further explore the many subgenres of indie hip-hop. Apparently this is something called “Illbient,” a combination of “ill” and “ambient,” and yeah, I can hear that. This is pretty damn great.
It works as background music, but manages to be musically varied enough to hold your attention if you’re willing to give it.
It’s interesting, but also jarring, how many of these tracks seem to stop in the middle and turn into something completely different. This was definitely meant to be heard in one sitting. It is a bit long.
Kudos for the Moody Blues sample.
Favorite track: I Promise To Never Get Paint On My Glasses Again
Townes Van Zandt - Towns Van Zandt (1969)
Are you ready to gently rock? You all keep recommending hip-hop and country albums despite the fact that I am woefully ignorant about both genres. But that’s why we’re here isn’t it? To listen and learn?
This is the #8 ranked album for 1969 on RYM, and that year was absolutely stacked, so there must be something good going on here.
This is a bit more folk than country in my estimation. I have to say Mr. Van Zandt has a soothing voice. I also love the production on this album. Everything sounds so warm and inviting. I think the sparesness of the arrangements, usually just guitar and vocals, maybe some light drumming, works both for and against the songs. I’d like to hear a bit more variety in the instrumentation to complement the silky smooth vocals.
I don’t normally go for singer-songwriter type albums, but I could see myself coming back to this one.
Favorite track: Waiting Around to Die
OM - Variations on a Theme (2005)
I think this might be the most musically diverse set of recommendations so far. So let’s cap it off with the some OM. I’ve been craving some down-tuned riffage.
The thing I’ve always struggled with when it comes to stoner metal is the vocals, and I’m running into a similar issue here. I love what they’re doing musically, but the vocals are a bit too droney. Yes, I KNOW that’s the point. The band is called OM for crying out loud. Personal preference I guess.
I’m a casual fan of their vocalist’s other, better-known band Sleep, but I think I prefer this one riffs-wise. The vaguely spiritual lyrics and Eastern musical influences are an interesting addition.
I don’t know what any of this means but I do appreciate it.
I listened to some of their later albums and I love “Advaitic Songs,” so maybe check that one out while you’re at it.
Favorite track: On The Mountain At Dawn
That’s all for this edition. I’m running out of recommendations! Please send me more. They can be from any genre and any time period. If you don’t, I’m just going to keep reviewing emo revival albums, and I’m not sure how much more of that either of us can take.