Divaman
05.01.20 | Once again, anyone is eligible to vote one time with their main account, provided that you listen to each full album at least once (although I recommend you give each two or three listens to really get a sense of what each album is about.) Voting ends next Thursday, 5/7. |
neekafat
05.01.20 | what does "an assist" mean |
DoofDoof
05.01.20 | Don’t know either of these |
budgie
05.01.20 | dont know either of these |
neekafat
05.01.20 | Congratulations, you have officially met doof's standards for obscurity |
Divaman
05.01.20 | That's pretty obscure, considering the second one is Doof's rec. |
Divaman
05.01.20 | "an assist" means that JustJoe made the original suggestion, but didn't want to commit to fully participating - listening to all the entries, voting, etc. So bgillesp and Joe came to an agreement, and bgillesp officially entered the album. |
SlothcoreSam
05.02.20 | Listened to each twice, and can't listen to 1 anymore, hated it.
So 2 wins. |
Divaman
05.02.20 | Lol. That's not a vote for 1, right sloth? |
SlothcoreSam
05.02.20 | Woops. Edited.
2 wins |
Divaman
05.02.20 | 0-1
Clara Engel -
Clem Snide - Sloth |
Friday13th
05.02.20 | 1 sets a nice dark, dramatic mood, but the songs are very repetitive. The album is not terribly long though, which balances things out a bit. |
Jethro42
05.02.20 | Vocals immediately remind me those of Heather Findlay (early Mostly Autumn), and the music is reminiscent of Sleepy Sun, and it's a good thing. I agree with you Friday 100%, and about the repetitiveness, it is felt within the same song too. But album got an hypnotic vibe, a sense of trance that I like very much. |
Friday13th
05.03.20 | @Jethro yes, that’s what I meant by repetitive, within each song.
I’m enjoying 2 a lot more than I care to admit. I don’t have a ton of points of reference for what I would label “indie folk/americana/alt-country,” but it it reminds me of Wilco and Fleet Foxes. |
Jethro42
05.03.20 | Yeah Forever Just Beyond sounds at least like Fleet Foxes, but it only has a little amount of enjoyable songs. It could make the difference though. Will see. |
DoofDoof
05.03.20 | it's less obvious than Fleet Foxes, but a bit more humble for my money
but I also like Fleet Foxes so happy enough with that comparison with my boy |
DoofDoof
05.03.20 | Ok the Clara Engel...it's almost quite good, if it was a bit more intriguing melodically, a dash more powerful and she had a more interesting/unique voice we'd be listening to Brigid Mae Power. Or maybe Big Blood? (definitely check Big Blood 'Double Days II' if you like this and prepare to be amazed). So I don't hate this but it serves no function for me as there are artists in a very similar ballpark to this that I prefer a lot. So that's a 2.5 |
Divaman
05.03.20 | Is that an official vote yet, Doof? |
neekafat
05.03.20 | Agreed with Doof's take on 1, not overly fond of 2 either but I'll give both another listen |
Friday13th
05.04.20 | I like 1 but it is hit or miss, with the slow pace and repetition of several songs ultimately making the album a chore to listen to in its entirety. The first song is quite good, but then the second song is a total slog. 3 minutes of alternating between the same chords with no variation. It's the shortest song yet feels like an eternity. The third song is okay but definitely didn't need to be 7 min. Sometimes it is nice to hear music that is settled on a mood and isn't in a rush to go anywhere, but this album pushes the limits of how much I can enjoy this style. I could go on, but ultimately 1 is less enjoyable than 2.
I'm voting for 2. |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | what have i done |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | clara i’ve failed you |
Divaman
05.04.20 | 0-2
Clara Engel -
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday |
Divaman
05.04.20 | It's pretty early still, Joe. And I don't know if you're aware of this, but as long as you listen to both albums, you're allowed to vote. |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | my attention span won’t allow it & who knows i might’ve ended up agreeing
😇 |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | i’ll play it by ear but no promises divaguy |
Friday13th
05.04.20 | Is Clara like a personal acquaintance or something? lol |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | just an artist that i’ve known of since 2011 |
neekafat
05.04.20 | 1 is a pretty unnerving horror-folk outing with some superb vocals but a seriously under-cooked style of songwriting. The opener is good and a couple other tracks stand out, but the majority of this is very (I know I'm not the first to say it) repetitive and a bit of a slog to get through. Some great ideas tho and she def has potential. 2.6/5
2 was kinda the opposite, with a pretty unengaging voice to me that sounded more based in emo than anything, but he knew how to use it well enough. The instrumentation wandered between inspired and very plain, but as an indie folk album it was very pleasant and put a smile on my face more than a couple times. Maybe on a worse day I'd rate this lower, but the sun is out and I'm feeling good, so for me this is a 3.3/5 |
Friday13th
05.04.20 | @JustJoe that is a long time. That's as long as I've been a hardcore prog head. |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | riverside is the extent of my prog ventures i’m ashamed to say |
Divaman
05.04.20 | 0-3
Clara Engel -
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka |
DoofDoof
05.04.20 | Diva, my selection for the tourney was 2 so yeah, I’m voting for 2 all the moreso that I found 1 just ok |
DoofDoof
05.04.20 | If people genuinely re-listen as the rounds progress I’d expect ratings to rise for my pick 2 (if it makes it through this round). My initial reaction was a 3 out of 5, slowly it climbed up to a strong 4.
My feelings towards Clem Snide’s stuff before this album was even less favourable. Basically, it had to win me over big time - but it did, bit by bit, song by song. |
bgillesp
05.04.20 | Well I like 1 more than all of you so far cuz I love the vibe, but the samey-ness does bring it down a bit for sure, sorry Joe. Will check 2 soon. |
JustJoe.
05.04.20 | no apologies necessary gilly
😁 |
Divaman
05.04.20 | 0-4
Clara Engel -
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof |
Jethro42
05.04.20 | When it comes to lament, I prefer to listen to Lhasa De Sela. Here's a representative example; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiEvQWeZtTI ..She can sing in Spanish (mostly), English or French. Great songwriting, great vocals...she leaves room to the instruments, to please the ear.
That being said, I agree again with Friday 100% about number one. |
Jethro42
05.04.20 | Now, this is truly a quality lament; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiDo06tYdco
R.I.P. Lhasa. |
Jethro42
05.05.20 | Clem Snide got one out of two good but not great songs. And all that is between, we got fillers. I would not stand 10 minutes in a campfire with them. Arrangements are good, but the songwriting needs improving. The last song is the highlight. Vocals remind me of The Decemberists here, and to Neutral Milk Hotel there. I'm tired of that kind of indie music; same country melodies, same kind of vocals all the time.
Clara Engel is perhaps repetitive, but she's got material. Plus, it meant to be repetitive. I mean, look at her songs, it's clear and limpide. I really love her voice a la Heather Findlay. The lady even got some Psychotic Waltz vibes in the first song. I'm usually not fond of somber music and cold laments, but here, it just speaks to me, it seems.
Clara Engel for me. |
Divaman
05.05.20 | 1-4
Clara Engel - Jethro
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof |
neekafat
05.05.20 | anyone who uses "limpide" casually cannot be in the right
jk I totally can see why someone would prefer Clara |
Jethro42
05.05.20 | You're making fun of my English heh :-D...In French, we use to say ''clair et net'', but the google traduction didn't really help, so yeah... |
bgillesp
05.06.20 | Gotta go Clem Snide here. But I did still enjoy Clara. Sorry Joe |
JustJoe.
05.06.20 | it’s alright gilly
♥️ |
Divaman
05.06.20 | 1-5
Clara Engel - Jethro
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp |
garas
05.06.20 | Alright, it was a clear win for Clem Snide. I didn't like that Clara Engel album at all tbh, it was kinda irritating. However, I can't say "Forever Just Beyond" will be a favourite of mine since it is also a bit boring for me (like any other alt-country release tbh), and oh my... what the hell is that album cover?!
(Off-topic: my favourite was Clara Engel's artist bio: "Non-binary (they/them)" - that's awkward, LOL'd.) |
aydross121
05.06.20 | Vote 1 |
Divaman
05.06.20 | 2-6
Clara Engel - Jethro, aydross
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp, garas |
Divaman
05.06.20 | Hey gang, remember to vote by the end of the day tomorrow. |
wham49
05.07.20 | I will go with 2 dig the delivery |
Divaman
05.07.20 | 2-7
Clara Engel - Jethro, aydross
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp, garas, wham |
budgie
05.07.20 | how many days left |
neekafat
05.07.20 | Thursday night's the end |
budgie
05.07.20 | noice ill check these tomorrw then |
Deathconscious
05.07.20 | My vote goes to 1. |
Divaman
05.07.20 | The vote is today, budgie. |
Divaman
05.07.20 | At first, I didn't relate to the Clara Engel album at all. I will say it grew on me, particularly that first song.
However, for me, the Clem Snide album was solid throughout. My vote goes to 2. |
Divaman
05.07.20 | 3-8
Clara Engel - Jethro, aydross, Deathconscious
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp, garas, wham, diva |
nuklearmoose
05.07.20 | Clem Snide really struck a tone with me. Love that kind of stuff. I will have to go with Clem |
budgie
05.07.20 | will vote in 2hrs |
budgie
05.07.20 | although looks like it will be inconsequential |
Divaman
05.07.20 | 3-9
Clara Engel - Jethro, aydross, Deathconscious
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp, garas, wham, diva, nuklearmoose |
neekafat
05.07.20 | post it |
budgie
05.07.20 | i rlly didnt like either but vote for clara i guess |
Divaman
05.08.20 | 4-9
Clara Engel - Jethro, aydross, Deathconscious, budgie
Clem Snide - Sloth, Friday, neeka, Doof, bgillesp, garas, wham, diva, nuklearmoose |
neekafat
05.08.20 | budgie you should just look to see whether its fem vox or not and just vote off of that (; |
Divaman
05.08.20 | Gonna close out the vote in an hour (12 mid ET). |
Divaman
05.08.20 | OK, it's done. Clem Snide moves on to Round 2, by a vote of 4 to 9. |
Minushuman24
05.09.20 | Oops, I forgot about this, Finals week my bad |