dibs

Just so you know lilsolsman that was a B-side, most of instrument (b-side album) doesn't have any vocals and are generally more catchy than they're normal stuff, that song is not very silimlar to the rest of their work, just incase you check out more of their stuff

[B]Counting Crows- Mr Jones[/B]

This is the very first Counting Crows song I've heard. Reminds me of a little bit of Bob Dylan playing live; and a little bit of Matchbox twenty (but, better). It starts with a guitar riff and singing over it, then the band enters. The song goes with the same riff it started throughout the whole song. Which leaves time to concentrate on the lyrics. I like the vocals... and the lyrics are really clever. The song itself has a pretty uplifting mood. In the middle, there is a short breakdown where the songs becomes bittersweet. Then goes back to the riff again.

The music is really simplistic; not really my style, but this time, it is pretty accurate to have a simple music, because its the vocals that carry the whole song. There are some backing vocals which fit perfectly.

Sweet song; liked it. The bad thing about it is, it lacks melody in my opinion, and nothing too surprising. 6.5/10

[B]Sugarcubes[/B]- Birthday (experimental pop) [Björk at the vocals]
[B]The Clinic[/B]- The Vulture (Radioheadish experimental post rock)
[B]Múm[/B]- Awake on a Train (Icelandic electronica- experimental pop)

Dibs.

I'm a confirmed Bjork fan, though not the biggest in the world, but despite Orb's endorsement, I haven't yet heard anything by the Sugarcubes.
[b]The Sugarcubes - Birthday[/b] - 3:58

Starts off low, almost bluesy, with a higher pitched sound coming across the top - it sounds like the sound made when you purse your lips and blow next to plastic bad, or cellophane. I've no idea what's making that noise, it's kind of annoying though. Anyway, so far (0:20) it's pretty dark for a pop song.

Some tinkly bells introduce Bjork's vocals, along with some percussion. The percussion is nice; irregular, but not off-beat, I like it. Bjork's voice is typically ranging from high-pitched to low, almost growled, parts, in her own, uneasy sounding way. An echo effect on her vocals, as well.

The rest of the song carries on in much the same way; being a pop track, there's not much variation beyond the vocals. And it ends with Bjork giving us some non-lyrical "dum dum, da-dum dum"s.

6.5/10, I think, and that mostly for Bjork's vocals.

[b]Would I listen to more of the same band?[/b] I'm not sure, to be honest.

Songs;
Einstürzende Neubauten - [i]Blume (French version)[/i] (ostensibly an industrial band, but I've given up trying to classify each of their songs)
Circle Takes the Square - [i]Interview at the Ruins[/i] (emocore)
Aereogramme - [i]A Meaningful Existence[/i] or [i]Sunday 3:52[/i] (post-rock)
Devin Townsend - [i]Down and Under[/i]

Dibs.

Cirlce Takes The Square - Interview At The Ruins

Starts off with some nice guitar, but with some strange noises as well that could be various things. All sounds a little weird, so I'm looking forward to this. Gets going a little more now, so far so good.

Singing starts and, my god, I was not expecting that. Very screamy and it gave me a start. Then some muttering and some computer talking. It carries on whilst the guitar riff comes back. Now a few voices singing, but I'm not really enjoying the vocal line on this at all.

Am doing my duty on this thread and listening to it the whole way through, but I can't say I'll be listening to it again.

There's some acapello singing now and then it stops.

4/10 - really didn't enjoy most of that, but the guitar was good.

My songs:

John Frusciante - Regret (fairly laid back alternative guitar track)
Placebo - I'll Be Yours (slightly electronica-influenced)
Pulp - I Spy (classic Britpop)
Stroke 9 - Little Black Backpack (entertaining rock track)

Dibs

Stroke 9 - Little Black Backpack

My friend was just telling me about this song the other day. He made it sound pretty good but I hadn't checked it out yet, so here is the perfect opprotunity.

Starts off with guitar, bass, drums intro. In comes vocals. He's got a 'pretty' voice. A quick verse, then right to the chorus. Up beat poppy chorus. Doesn't last long, into the next verse. Then right back to the chorus. Very catchy tune so far. Kind of stupid lyrics in my opinon. Not really deep meaningful song. Now into the rockin bridge. Slow it down... and back to the chorus. Reminds me of Simple Plan/Mest except if they played 90's pop rock like Vertical Horizon or Nine Days. Very catchy though, I could imagine them being on TRL or something with girls screaming their name. Not a CD I would buy though. I'm going to give it a 6/10 stars. Now I'm going to go kick my friend in the groin and give some new CDs.

My Picks:
Iron & Wine - Naked As We Came (I consider it musical poetry)
Hot Hot Heat - In Cairo (Synth pop rock)
White Stripes - Death Letter (Very good Stripes rock)
The Kinks - 20th Century Man (Good classic brit rock)

dibs, purely on seeing a Kinks recomedation

[B]Iron & Wine - Naked As We Came[/B] 2:32

I've tried to listen to these guys before but I got bored of them, so here is my second try. Opens exactly as a thought it would, an acoustic guitar pattern. This type of playing is very similar to Nick Drake. The vocals are okay, I wish they would stand out more, instead they make me zone out, especially when the female back up vocals come in (I guess this is a good thing depending on your mood). This song is very short which is good, I would get very tired off that guitar if it was around any longer. I don't really understand why these guys get such good reviews but I guess it's just my taste.

[B]6/10 Repetive[/B]

My Songs: All from the Elephant 6 label
Neutral Milk Hotel - Song Against Sex
Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage
Circulatory System - The Lovely Universe

Dibs.

Haven't heard of this band before, but I generally don't like post-punk, so I'm wary.
[b]Neutral Milk Hotel - Song Against Sex[/b] - 3:41

Starts out with a loud, electronic noise, which I wasn't expecting. It goes away pretty quickly though, and a guy clears his throat, says "huh?"; there's some radio chatter for a few seconds, then a drumstick 1-2-3-4 intro, and the music starts.

Vocals come in straight away, a fairly regular voice, but he's got a good idea of rhythm for his lyrics. Seems to be telling a story of himself being seduced by another man..I think. The music is pretty upbeat, nothing interesting happening yet, but it is only the start of the song.

We get a tuba, I think, after the first verse, at about 1:15. After that, we go back to the fairly regular, but rhythmically adept, voice. That tuba (or whatever it is) is still playing behind his voice.

One thing that annoys me is that at the end of each verse, his voice goes higher, and (deliberately, I think) out of tune, which sounds terrible.

And the song just goes out like that; the instruments hardly vary throughout, just clattering along. What they were doing wasn't unpleasant, but some variation would have been nice.

6/10, mainly for the way in which the guy managed the vocals, which was pretty quick and smooth.

[b]Would I listen to more of the same band?[/b] Probably not.

Songs;
Einstürzende Neubauten - [i]Blume (French version)[/i] (ostensibly an industrial band, but I've given up trying to classify each of their songs)
Aereogramme - [i]A Meaningful Existence[/i] or [i]Sunday 3:52[/i] (post-rock)
Devin Townsend - [i]Down and Under[/i]
The Beta Band - [i]Dry the Rain[/i] (lo-fi alt. folk)

[QUOTE=Bartender]

One thing that annoys me is that at the end of each verse, his voice goes higher, and (deliberately, I think) out of tune, which sounds terrible.
[/QUOTE]

I love when he does that, we have very different tastes in music, hence the always low reviews from you.

Not a dibs

6/10 isn't low, it's just not particularly high.

New page, songs carried over.
Einstürzende Neubauten - [i]Blume (French version)[/i] (ostensibly an industrial band, but I've given up trying to classify each of their songs)
Aereogramme - [i]A Meaningful Existence[/i] or [i]Sunday 3:52[/i] (post-rock)
Devin Townsend - [i]Down and Under[/i]
The Beta Band - [i]Dry the Rain[/i] (lo-fi alt. folk)

dibs!

The Beta Band - "Dry the Rain"

Starts off with cool mellow drumming. Now acoustic guitars join. Vocals come in and are pretty mellow. This is a good chill song so far.

The guitars on the chorus beautifully accompany the vocals. Well harmonized. This is almost like a mix of indy and alt/country. I am liking it. The second verse is similar to the first, and the chorus comes in again "Take me in and dry the rain".

Just after the 2 minute mark there is a little instrumental part and the chorus comes in again. The song is starting to build up a little more at this part it sounds like.

Another instrumental part, same drumming, nice bass line, and simple guitar chords, but it all comes together nicely. At the 3:45 mark a new instrument comes in, sounds like it could be some kind of a horn.

New vocals just join in at the 4:10 mark this is definately the highlight of the song. The "I will be alright" part that is. I really like the bassline on this part, and the vocals are spectacular.

The same line is repeated several times near the end and it continues as it fades out. Great song, I hadn't heard it in a while.

9.5/10

Tom Waits - "Gun Street Girl" or "Hang Down Your Head"

dibs, was meaning to get into him lately.

Tom Waits - Hang Your Head

Starts off with some random talking, probably just the download. Blah blah blah. A bit of piano, c'mon c'mon, stupid download programmes.

Right, after only a minute or so it gets going. Still not convinced this is the right song, but I'll review it as if it is.

He has a very weird voice, very deep and kinda strained sounding, not that great. Like the piano though. Lyrics seem nice, but he doesn't seem to be able to inject any real feeling into what he's singing. Oof, it's really not very enjoyable to listen to his voice, argh. Much sameness, then some clapping and it's finished.

Shouldn't think I'll ever listen to that again - 4/10

My songs:

Eliza Gilkyson - The Ballad of Yvonne Johnson (kinda folky)
The White Stripes - It's True That We Love One Another (amusing kinda spoof folk song)
Air - Alpha Beta Gaga (insanely catchy, the usual Air stuff)
Elbow - Switching Off (mellow indie song)

~bumps back onto the first page~ don't want it to die while I'm not here.

[QUOTE=theashtraygirl]Air - Alpha Beta Gaga (insanely catchy, the usual Air stuff)[/QUOTE]

Dibsss

[B]Air - Alpha Beta Gaga[/B]

OK... so it's electronica-ish. Opens up with like, spy music. James Bond style. Now some whistling. Back to spy music. Back to whistling! Trippy noises and stuff, which are cool. Now theres some country music style acoustic plucky stuff, with the whistling tune over the top.

Yeah, it's nice and catchy and happy and fun. A bit simple, but I like it. I shall be checking out more of this band.

I give it [B]8/10.[/B]


My songs:

Portishead - Glory Box
Lovage - Sex
Bjork & Thom Yorke - I've seen it all

[QUOTE=Tomahawk]Portishead - Glory Box
[/QUOTE]

dibs

[B]Portishead - Glory Box [/B]

This song starts off softly and gets a little louder, just bass, drums, and violins. its a really chill beat, very relaxing. Her voice becomes stronger and more clear with the guitars more into the song, and the chorus is really great. 'Give me a reason to love you', I love really relaxed repetative kind of songs. Then it gets heavier about right at the end, with her voice louder w/ delay, electronic drums, and then effectively fades (lasts about 10-12 seconds I'd say) leaving you feeling a little deprived, i think that was the intent, but still very relaxed and pleasant. the song then fades out.

I'm going to give this an 8.5/10, I liked it.

my songs be

Cursive - Lament of Pretty Baby
The Faint - Violent
Desaparecidos - Manana

dibs

[B]Cursive - Lament of Pretty Baby[/B] 3:15

I have heard some other songs by this band and realy liked them, The Reclusive is just beatiful. Hopefully this will be something like that song. This songs starts on a hi hat rythmn, reminds me of The Fall song C.R.E.E.P. Next the guitars comes in with a distorted and some pinch haromnics (not sure if that is right). The bass comes in establises a tight groove. I like the vocals, they have a screamo sound to them. At 1:45 there is a quiet part, the drums around here is nice (very dynamic).This band keeps reminding me more and more of Fugazi, who always do cool little things like what's happening at 2:40. Things like those always keep me interested and usually takes a few listens to get the whole song. One more verse and the song is done.

[B]8/10[/B] Good, I'm going to find more of this band.

My Songs: Here's something new
[B]Gong[/B] (very cool space rock)
Flute Salad
Oily Way
Outer Temple

All these Gong songs flow into each other to form around a 9 minute song, I would highly reccomend listening to them all as a whole, but if you can't find them all or only want to do one song that's fine.

other suggestions:
The Fall - C.R.E.E.P
Stereolab - Miss Modular

ahem

I've been trying to download the Gong trilogy, but it's not working. So, no dibs.

You don't have to do them all.

I would actually be surprised if someone did.

I'd rather do all three than just one. It's only 9 minutes, after all.