Ouch

Buena Vista Social Club - Lost & Found (March 23)

My comments are in red: Thanks for listening to the mixtape, and sorry if some parts weren't for you. A lot of this was mood driven, and for me, electronics were fitting that mood the most. Hopefully you may find better music to suite you once you know the artists and song titles. HERE IS THE TRACKLISTING FOR THE MIXTAPE:

Here are my collective thoughts on this mixtape called Reverie! OVERALL: This was a consistent mixtape, a lot of gospel, rock, americana, and indie. Thanks for taking effort on that regard, it's hard picking songs that can flow with one another. Some parts I loved, some parts I didn't care that much for, but there wasn't a point where it became bad at all. Would love to know the track listing for this now. :)

This has got to be the shortest amount of participants on a mixtape exchange on this site :P when do we turn in our mixtapes though? EDIT: Feb 8th, didn't see that too well, whoops

Liturgy - The Ark Work (March 24)

http://www.stereogum.com/1729904/bjork-stone-milker/news/ Björk’s Vulnicura has apparently leaked two months early, which means you can stop watching her reading the nativity story on Icelandic TV as a kid and enjoy some brand new music if you are so inclined. As previously reported, Arca and the Haxan Cloak worked on the album. Antony also appears on the collection, which has not been confirmed as a final mix or track sequence. It’s definitely new Björk, though. The artwork above comes via the City Center website, so it’s legit, though it is not necessarily an album cover. Here’s the tracklist according to the leak. 01 “Stone Milker” (6:49) 02 “Lion Song” (6:16) 03 “History Of Touches” (2:56) 04 “Black Lake” (10:04) 05 “Family” (7:57) 06 “NotGet” (6:23) 07 “Atom Dance” (Feat. Antony Hegarty) (8:08) 08 “Mouth Mantra” (6:06) 09 “Quicksand” (3:48)

Chromatics - Dear Tommy (Feb TBA) Alcohol Faith Mission - Orbiter (Feb 20) BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah - Sour Soul (Feb 24) Björk - Vulnicura (March TBA) Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi (March 31) Doldrums - The Air Conditioned Nightmare (March 07)

I'm in

I'd have to agree it's getting to the point in Chris's career where playing with vague lyricism is just not working anymore. He has the drive, emotion, and medium to pull off something powerful and controversal. MX and GS (VLV in extent) were detached from their narrative or intended purposes. MX might not be "The Wall" but the narrative/story couldn't support itself from being blurry in its storytelling (an album has to stand on its own even with companion pieces likes books, comics, scripts, etc.). GS was as mentioned not as personal as Chris made it out be, and therefore was a cause for the confusion between his supposed narrative of the album and the "break up" that inspired it. If he stepped up his songwriting game, I'd think that be key to composing a unique gem. He's given us enough songs for us, he needs to make songs for himself now.

Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho (January 16) Joey Bada$$ - B4.Da.$$ (January 20) Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuo & Youth (January 20) H-Burns - Night Moves (January 26) Torche - Restarter (February 24) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday (March 02) Modest Mouse - Strangers to Ourselves (March 03) Will Butler - Policy (March 10) Marina and the Diamonds - Froot (April 03) Edited: 1/16/15

Top 30 Albums of the Year 30: CYBEREALITYライフ – Neonites 29: Boris – Noise 28: Protomartyr – Under Color of Official Right 27: Hozier – Hozier 26: Ariel Pink – Pom Pom 25: Myniakal – Gannon 24: Trophy Scars – Holy Vacants 23: Oh, Rose – That Do Now See EP 22: Colourmusic – May You Marry Rich 21: A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Sea When Absent 20: Lucy Hale – Road Between 19: Liars – Mess 18: Nouns – Still 17: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Piñata 16: Sun Kil Moon – Benji 15: The Irrepressibles – Nude: Landscapes, Viscera & Fordidden EPs 14: Clipping. – CLPPNG 13: Xiu Xiu – Angel Guts: Red Classroom 12: Open Mike Eagle – Dark Comedy 11: Perfume Genius – Too Bright 10: Car Seat Headrest – How to Leave Town EP 09: ‘68 – In Humor and Sadness 08: QuESt – Searching Sylvan 07: Copeland – Ixora 06: D’Angelo – Black Messiah 05: Shabazz Palaces – Lese Majesty 04: Giant Claw – Dark Web 03: ††† – ††† 02: Jhené Aiko – Souled Out 01: Run the Jewels – RTJ2 Honorable Mentions •Baton Rouge – Totem •Gazelle Twin – Unflesh •Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties – We Don’t Have Each Other •This Will Destroy You – Another Language •Mute Channel – 黄昏のカーニバル •Swans – To Be Kind

Lately I've been thinking Coldplay needs to make a second singles box set to summarize and make available the last three great eras. Below is my detailed look into what the box set may include. I have no idea what the box design should be, but I imagine it to be humorous to make it black. I hope you like my hypothetical release of a second box set. That's my big idea! I'm not sure if any of it is practical or reasonable, but this made sense in my head overall. It'd be cool to get this moving somewhere, but I'd love to know what you guys think of this big list. Is it good? Should certain things be changed or avoided? Should this even be made at all (haha)? (PS: It'd be a great idea before the LP7 release, or maybe after? Idk.)

I guess you can say they both tried to be more electronic and took some risks with their styles because of that. But, I honestly think 2nd Law does a better job than Ghost Stories. Then again, it's hard to compare such a mellow album with the ferocity Muse always brings in their music.

This would be cool if I hadn't bought the deluxe edition already. Oh well.

Circulatory System - Mosaics Within Mosaics

This is sooo great lol. Well then. :rolleyes: But really, I don't blame this person for hating it.

This is the only explanation of Ghost Stories I will accept. Nothing more.

[video=youtube;Fct7QGQl3Ik] Thought to include this video, mostly because he's a really in depth reviews. He deserves a lot of attention for his reviewing style, too.

Finally! Here is my track by track review of the mixtape by my mysterious partner. Just to get generalities out of the way, I liked the cohesive elements of indie, rock, blues, and the tinges of pop. Though the atmosphere of the songs were not my forte, they were enjoyable. I felt that the vocal choices were a bit redundant, and I kept wondering if I was listening to the same artist. The latter half of the mixtape tended to be experimental in its production and mixing, and I liked the enclosing variety left at the end. I did put a rating on this, but it's mostly for myself to feel how well this mixtape was for me. 01 - 3:43 Starting off strong on heavy usage of drumming and bass. The rhythm felt like it would come straight from early recordings of The Reconteurs. I liked The delivery from the vocals felt a bit generic on the indie side. The song was dreamy and smooth, the piano a twinkling under a minimalist introduction. It serves as an interesting introduction. 02 - 5:39 This song might be a favorite. It's really accessible, but it feels organic. The ukulele help keep the electronic beat feel earthly. I wouldn't know if any cultural appropriation was involved in this, but it definitive felt like it shared some worldly, aboriginal undertones. I'm interested who this was. 03 - 3:01 I can't tell if this is the same artist from track two, but it feels damn close. Aside from that, the synthpop and orchestral mixing was mesmerizing. It didn't enlarge itself to some blob either. It is a conserved sound, but is a real slow burner. I couldn't make out the lyrics, so whether its grandiose energy fails in comparison to the lyrical context is debatable to me. 04 - 2:55 It seems like the mixtape is heading for more emotive atmosphere at this point. I appreciate the crooning and firm voice of the singer. It can also fit a falsetto but this was all right. I liked the analogy (or comparisons) about the protagonist's hardship to the waves of the oceans. Though it felt cliche, the sad melodies make it believable. It was short, which is good. 05 - 2:55 First thing to notice is the beginning. Whether it was a mixing of the vocal range or some digital thing going on, it was strange. I would say this is not that likable for me. It is just from strange orientation of happy baroque pop with a Dirty Projectors twist. I guess this track isn't that memorable to me. 06 - 3:33 I want to argue this is from the 70s era. But if this is a modern song, then damn. What this reminds me of is songs from Jefferson Starship. Specifically, it sounds like it comes from the Red Octopus album. It's definitely a well detailed song. With all the string melodies and backing vocals, it fills this psychedelic sound. It's a very cheery song, but mostly not a favorite either. I'm just not feeling it is all. 07 - 4:05 Very poppy. Clean melodies and somewhat conformist vocal deliveries. It feels like something from Owl City. Not too interesting to me, just because it doesn't click with me most of the time. I can understand how this can be emotional under the heavy orchestration in the background and some of the message on positivism. I guess I'm not completely interested, but I know this could appeal to people. 08 - 3:13 The Beatles' "Ticket to Ride" from the Help! album. One of the catchy songs on the album. I like the Help song that starts the album just for being somewhat epic. As for this song, it's lovable for being the Beatles. 09 - 3:46 Whenever I hear a guy's voice sound like this I always say it's Mumford & Sons, but I know I'm wrong. I forget the name of it but I think this song is from this year. It's a darling of a song, with a sweet, quiet guitar backing. It has nice string sections that don't feel overwhelming to the song. It's overall a heartwarming song. 10 - 4:34 I find this song to be really memorable, and the voice of this guy just gets to me a bit. I like how he sounds convincing, and that the song doesn't sound cheesy. The song doesn't feel ruined by its own self. I feel reminded of Sparklehorse but with a happy tone. I'd love to know this artist. 11 - 3:45 And now we are finally getting a lot more heavier after so many slow songs. It makes me think of the band, Them Crooked Vultures. It has that very upbeat drive and a fun sense of charm. Very groovy and bluesy vibe from the guitar parts and the backing vocals. Nice change of pace from the mixtape. I would like the know the song in context to the band's work though. 12 - 4:18 This sounds like a Keane song but with a better, less concerned, touch of sound. The singing is a bit underwhelming for a song that sounds more confident than humble for the singer. Overall, it was nice as a soothing interlude, but it's a bit boring. It does have initiative and the grander to appeal a lot of people, just not me. 13 - 3:34 I'm feeling my Franz Ferdinand vibes rolling in this song, haha. Even though it isn't them, it's still a feverishly good song with a snappy bass line. I just feel a bit seared in unintentional boredom from all these male singers sounding a bit alike in the mixtape. But this song alone is pretty amazing. I'd like to know who this was is. 14 - 4:02 I love that eerie intro. I love that it reminds me of the band Wild Beasts for the vocals and Arthur Beatrice for the musical production. I love the minimalist, theatrical mixing of the song. It's a good song for the approaching closer. 15 - 3:09 I think this is a closer for the lyrical contents rather than for the music, which is very much fine. When I listen to the lyrical contents, I keep feeling that I was supposed to pay attention to the themes in the mixtape. They all see to be summarized by this one song. Mixtape Rating: 3/5

Why is this becoming a radiohead v. coldplay thing? How is this even possible to do?? XD

Reviewing probably in the weekend. Graduation period here.

My comments are in bold. Thanks for liking the mixtape. I worried that the heavy instrumentation and huge leaps of genre skipping would be a turn off. I wanted to put in less sentimental and more grittiness in my mixtape this time. I hope you enjoy delving into the artists, whether you liked them or not. Toodles. Track Listing for everyone: Link (includes an artwork cover that was not mentioned. The mixtape is called Catherdral): https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5rltAKoymR0TXJOZk5IM3FLSW8&usp=sharing Cover:

DUDE! Your collection literally slays everyone else's. What a cool collection :D

I feel that the band is tiring themselves out in this. Chris especially has lost a good measure of his falsetto. No matter how pretty the music sounds, Chris just does not sound believable at all. His unsubtle songwriting, while it has made great songs in the past, works against him. The ambient production strays and turns to nowhere, and it adds nothing to the minimal approach. I understand if they want to make the album to be as timely as possible to the current EBM and atmospheric indie trends, but they feel so distant. I will always like Coldplay for making unique changes to their lineup, but I feel disappointed in this album. This is Coldplay at its most conservative, and it hurts to see them go this path. That's my two cents.