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    1. Would folks here be interested in an album of the week/album listening club?

      I've run similar weekly discussions in the past elsewhere to varying degrees of success. I've been really happy with how Fresh Album Fridays has been going so far, so thought there might be some...

      I've run similar weekly discussions in the past elsewhere to varying degrees of success. I've been really happy with how Fresh Album Fridays has been going so far, so thought there might be some interest in centering discussion around one certain album each week.

      There's a few ways of doing this that come to mind - if anyone has any other suggestions let me know

      • It's entirely random from the top 2k-10k albums on RYM. You tend to get a very interesting spread of albums this way.

      • In the past I've done a 'time travel' version where each week is a year ahead from the last, with each album being chosen randomly from that year's top 20 or so albums. It's a fun novelty, but decades can get a little samey for 10 weeks.

      • Albums are user nominated, hopefully with a write up from that user. I'm least keen on this idea - I like how random albums keep things on an even playing field. A personal touch is nice, but requires some organization and consistent interest (might end up being the same few people).

      Also there's timing the discussion. There's a couple options I can think of

      • Each week the new album is declared, and the thread remains the place to discuss that album until the next album is posted.

      • A new discussion thread is created a week after the album is declared, while also declaring next week's album. This gives people time to hear the next album, and acts as a reminder for anyone behind, but maybe sours any chance for immediate impressions - folks might feel less inclined to write their thoughts a week after hearing something.

      Eager to hear any and all thoughts.

      35 votes
    2. ~music Listening Club 24 - Intro to Shoegaze

      So, it's time to switch things up a little as discussed in the last thread. We're going to have multiple records a week from now on and follow themes rather than the alternating weeks we've had...

      So, it's time to switch things up a little as discussed in the last thread. We're going to have multiple records a week from now on and follow themes rather than the alternating weeks we've had until now.

      The first week of our new format is the beginning of a genre introduction series that I'm running: Intro to Shoegaze! We will likely have several different themes switching off each week, and I'll kick off a few over the next couple weeks. These aren't intended to be tailored for genreheads (at least not right now), but rather a way to have a conversation about the all-time greats of specific genres, scenes, labels, etc. while also having something fresh that those already into that kind of music might not already be familiar with.

      Shoegaze

      Shoegazing (or shoegaze, initially known as "dream pop") is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It is characterised by its ethereal-sounding mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. The term "shoegazing" was coined by the British music press to ridicule the stage presence of a wave of neo-psychedelic groups who stood still during live performances in a detached, introspective, non-confrontational state with their heads down. This was because the heavy use of effects pedals meant the performers were often looking down at the readouts on their effects pedals during concerts.

      Most shoegazing bands drew from the glide guitar template set by My Bloody Valentine on their early EPs and 1988 debut Isn't Anything. A loose label given to the shoegazing scene and other affiliated bands in London in the early 1990s was The Scene That Celebrates Itself. In the early 1990s, shoegazing groups were pushed aside by the American grunge movement and early Britpop acts such as Suede, forcing the relatively unknown bands to break up or reinvent their style altogether. In the 2000s, there was renewed interest in the genre among "nu gaze" bands.

      Essential Album: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - Listen to it!

      The shoegaze genre has a pretty much univerally agreed-upon "Big 3" records, the most prominent and influential of which being My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, which is undoubtedly the #1 starting place if you're looking to check out shoegaze for yourself. It's the darling of the genre and of internet music nerdom in general for a reason.

      Loveless is the second studio album by English-Irish rock band My Bloody Valentine. It was released on 4 November 1991 in the United Kingdom by Creation Records and in the United States by Sire Records. The album was recorded over a two-year period between 1989 and 1991, with vocalist and guitarist Kevin Shields leading the recording sessions and experimenting with guitar tremolo techniques and tuning systems, samplers, and meticulous production methods. The band cycled through nineteen different studios and many engineers during the album's prolonged recording, with its production cost rumoured to have reached £250,000.

      Preceded by the EPs Glider (1990) and Tremolo (1991), Loveless peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and was widely praised by critics for its sonic innovations and Shields's "virtual reinvention of the guitar". However, after its release, Creation Records owner Alan McGee removed the band from the label, as he found Shields too difficult to work with, a factor alleged to have contributed to the label's eventual bankruptcy. My Bloody Valentine struggled to record a follow-up to the album and broke up in 1997, and Loveless was their last full-length release until MBV in 2013.

      Since its release, Loveless has been widely cited by critics as one the greatest albums of the 1990s, a landmark work of the shoegazing subgenre, and as a significant influence on various subsequent artists. In 2012, it was reissued as a two-CD set, including remastered tracks and a previously unreleased half-inch analogue tape version, and peaked on several international charts. In 2013, Loveless was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.

      Minor Album: Vyva Melinkolya - Vyva Melinkolya - Listen to it!

      This one is a shoegaze record which lies a little more on the dream pop / ethereal side of the genre than Loveless, and is my personal album of the year for 2018 so far by a longshot. I would suggest this for anyone who wants to to live in that wonderful dreamy yet noisy middle ground. The artist is also nonbinary, and while I can't speak for everyone, I find that this speaks to gender dysphoria in a way that only the best shoegaze can.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the records, your history with them or the artists, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Loveless and Vyva Melinkolya! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      Again, if you'd like to stream or buy the albums, they can be found on most platforms here (Loveless) and here (Vyva Melinkolya).

      12 votes
    3. ~music Listening Club 25 - 1992

      On the second week of the new format, we're going to try out themes based on periods of time, this time being the year of 1992. Themes, both years like this one or whatever else you think would...

      On the second week of the new format, we're going to try out themes based on periods of time, this time being the year of 1992. Themes, both years like this one or whatever else you think would work well for the listening club, can be suggested in this thread or if you join the unofficial Tildes Discord server in the #listening-club channel.

      Essential Album: Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 - Listen!

      While a lot of excellent and long-lasting work was released in 1992, Selected Ambient Works 85-92 stands out as one of the most influential and has stood the test of time as well as any of them. As much as everyone hates the label of "Intelligent Dance Music" (IDM), there's no doubt that SAW is one of the cornerstone records of that genre that has an impact in the world of music at large that can't be ignored.

      Selected Ambient Works 85–92 is the debut studio album by the English electronic musician Richard D. James under the pseudonym of Aphex Twin, released as a very limited import in late November 1992 by Apollo Records, an imprint of the more prominent label R&S Records, and later widely in February 1993. The 1992 LP was James' third release overall, and collected tracks dating back as early as 1985. An analogue remaster was released in 2006, and a digital remaster in 2008.

      Selected Ambient Works 85–92 received widespread acclaim and has been characterised as a landmark of electronica, ambient music, and IDM. It was followed by Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994). On the week ending 27 September 2014, the album entered at #30 in the UK Dance Albums Chart after the release of his 2014 album Syro.

      Widely regarded by critics as one of the pioneering works in early IDM and modern electronic music, retrospective reviews mention its influence on electronic artists. Warp Records refers to it as "the birthplace and the benchmark of modern electronic music" and has stated that "every home should have a copy." In 2003, the album was placed #92 in "NME's 100 Best Albums" poll. Nine years later, it was named the greatest album of the 1990s by FACT Magazine. The album was also featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

      Minor Album: Divine Styler - Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light - Listen!

      This is a strange one, possibly the strangest hip hop album released as of 1992. It's so disjointed and all over the place that instead of describing it myself, I'll steal the descriptors from RateYourMusic: "Islamic, psychedelic, anxious, cryptic, conscious, abstract, introspective, surreal, eclectic, male vocals, avant-garde, noisy, spiritual."

      Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light is the second album by hip hop artist Divine Styler, released in 1992 on Giant Records. This album marked a significant change in Divine Styler's musical direction, incorporating a much broader range of styles and influences than 1989's Word Power. Despite the album's unusual style, it was actually released by a major label but, perhaps inevitably, failed to sell as well as record executives expected. Although the album was largely regarded as a commercial failure, it has since developed a large cult following. Styler was signed to Giant because of Ice-T’s relationship with Warner Bros. Records.

      The album is notoriously experimental—Allmusic referred to the album as being like '"The Residents meets Funkadelic"—and takes influence from a wide variety of music genres such as hip hop, rock, electronic, funk and even elements of spoken word and noise.

      The majority of the album was produced and arranged by Divine Styler himself, which included him performing and processing all of the vocals, playing the guitar, drums (and drum programming), and keyboards, among other instruments. Due to the artist's dominance over the album's direction, it is generally regarded as a very introspective and personal album.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the records, your history with them, the artists, or music in 1992 in general and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Selected Ambient Works 85-92 and Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      Again, if you'd like to stream or buy the albums, they can be found on most platforms here (Selected Ambient Works 85-92) and here (Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light).

      4 votes
    4. ~music Listening Club 23 - Dark Side of the Moon

      Welcome to the 23rd week, it had to come eventually...another classic record discussion: The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd! Posting a little early since I'll be busy celebrating...

      Welcome to the 23rd week, it had to come eventually...another classic record discussion: The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd! Posting a little early since I'll be busy celebrating Thanksgiving, have a great day everyone.

      The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. It built on ideas explored in Pink Floyd's earlier recordings and performances, but without the extended instrumentals that characterised their earlier work. Its themes explore conflict, greed, time, and mental illness, the latter partly inspired by the deteriorating health of founding member Syd Barrett, who left in 1968.

      Developed during live performances, Pink Floyd premiered an early version of The Dark Side of the Moon several months before recording began. New material was recorded in two sessions in 1972 and 1973 at Abbey Road Studios in London. The group used advanced recording techniques at the time, including multitrack recording and tape loops; analogue synthesizers are prominent, and snippets from interviews with Pink Floyd's road crew and others provide philosophical quotations. Engineer Alan Parsons was responsible for many sonic aspects and the recruitment of singer Clare Torry, who appears on one track. The iconic sleeve was designed by Storm Thorgerson; following keyboardist Richard Wright's request for a "simple and bold" design, it depicts a prism spectrum, representing the band's lighting and the record's themes.

      The Dark Side of the Moon produced two singles: "Money" and "Us and Them". The album topped the Billboard chart for a week, and remained on the chart for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988. Following a change in how Billboard counts sales in 2009, it re-entered the chart and has since appeared for over 900 weeks. With estimated sales of over 45 million, it is Pink Floyd's bestselling album and one of the bestselling worldwide. It has been remastered and rereleased several times, and covered in its entirety by several acts. It is regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with The Dark Side of the Moon! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Rather than get an obscure record this week, I'd love to hear from you in responses to this comment!

      9 votes
    5. ~music Listening Club 22 - Survival

      Welcome to week 22! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers! Taken from @koan's pitch: Does Bob Marley have gold and platinum records? Definitely....

      Welcome to week 22! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers!

      Taken from @koan's pitch:

      Does Bob Marley have gold and platinum records? Definitely. Survival is not one of them, but in my opinion it is by far his greatest album -- hands down, no competition. Everybody has an opinion about Bob Marley, whether you've actually given him a shot or not. Reggae can be polarizing. Some love it, some think it's corny. But Survival is not corny. It's Marley's greatest roots reggae record.

      While some Bob Marley songs might make you want to relax on a beach and sip cold cocktails, the songs on Survival make you want to get up and do something about shit. When I was absolutely stewing in dissatisfaction with my corporate job, listening to Survival on my commute in the morning inspired me to change my life. Be careful, because listening to it too much might turn you into a revolutionary.

      If you're unfamiliar with reggae in general, or you think it's silly, give this record a chance. It might change your perspective about a very deep and varied genre of music.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Survival. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      7 votes
    6. ~music Listening Club 21 - At Folsom Prison

      21 weeks and yet another classic record discussion: At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash! At Folsom Prison is a live album and 27th overall album by Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in May...

      21 weeks and yet another classic record discussion: At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash!

      At Folsom Prison is a live album and 27th overall album by Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in May 1968. After his 1955 song "Folsom Prison Blues", Cash had been interested in recording a performance at a prison. His idea was put on hold until 1967, when personnel changes at Columbia Records put Bob Johnston in charge of producing Cash's material. Cash had recently controlled his drug abuse problems, and was looking to turn his career around after several years of limited commercial success. Backed with June Carter, Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three, Cash performed two shows at Folsom State Prison in California on January 13, 1968. The resulting album consisted of fifteen tracks from the first show and two tracks from the second.

      Despite little initial investment by Columbia, the album was a hit in the United States, reaching number one on the country charts and the top 15 of the national album chart. The lead single from the album, a live version of "Folsom Prison Blues", was a top 40 hit, Cash's first since 1964's "Understand Your Man". At Folsom Prison received positive reviews and revitalized Cash's career, becoming the first in a series of live albums recorded at prisons that includes "At San Quentin" (1969), "Pa Osteraker" (1973), and "A Concert Behind Prison Walls" (1976). The album was rereleased with additional tracks in 1999, a three-disc set in 2008, and a five LP box set with bonus rehearsals in 2018 for Record Store Day. It was certified three times Platinum on March 27, 2003 by the Recording Industry Association of America for US sales exceeding three million.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with At Folsom Prison! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      8 votes
    7. ~music Listening Club 20 - Washing Machine

      Hey, we made it to week 20! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Washing Machine by Sonic Youth! Washing Machine is the ninth studio album by the American experimental rock band Sonic...

      Hey, we made it to week 20! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Washing Machine by Sonic Youth!

      Washing Machine is the ninth studio album by the American experimental rock band Sonic Youth, released on September 26, 1995 by DGC Records. It was recorded at Easley Studios in Memphis, Tennessee and produced by the band and John Siket, who also engineered the band's previous two albums. The album features more open-ended pieces than its predecessors and contains some of the band's longest songs, including the 20-minute ballad "The Diamond Sea", which is the lengthiest track to feature on any of Sonic Youth's studio albums.

      Taken from @Cleb's pitch:

      I listened to this fairly recently and after my previous experience with Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation, Sister), which I thought was mostly just okay, fine, whatever, I did not expect to get as much enjoyment out of this album as I did. Yeah, it's Sonic Youth going even less no-wave inspired than before, but I think they fit far better into that groove of noisy-ish alt rock without the no-wave coming in at times. Maybe I just think the writing is cooler. All I know is it made me finally able to say "I appreciate Sonic Youth."

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Washing Machine. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      7 votes
    8. ~music Listening Club 19 - The Beatles (The White Album)

      19 weeks and there's another classic record discussion to be had: The Beatles by The Beatles! The Beatles, also known as "The White Album", is the ninth studio album by the English rock band the...

      19 weeks and there's another classic record discussion to be had: The Beatles by The Beatles!

      The Beatles, also known as "The White Album", is the ninth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 22 November 1968. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed, which was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band's previous LP Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Although no singles were issued from The Beatles in Britain and the United States, the songs "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" originated from the same recording sessions and were issued on a single in August 1968. The album's songs range in style from British blues and ska to tracks influenced by Chuck Berry and by Karlheinz Stockhausen.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with the white album! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      11 votes
    9. ~music Listening Club 18 - Venture EP

      Hi, I'm filling in again! Welcome to week 18! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Venture EP by Televisor! Taken from @Bauke's pitch: Televisor's Venture EP is a high-energy 4 track...

      Hi, I'm filling in again!

      Welcome to week 18! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Venture EP by Televisor!

      Taken from @Bauke's pitch:

      Televisor's Venture EP is a high-energy 4 track nu-disco EP filled with synthesizers, heavy hitting basslines, and guitar licks all to make your head bounce. Together with some retro influences to make one hell of a funky beat in every track!

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Venture EP. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      8 votes
    10. ~music Listening Club 17 - Unknown Pleasures

      17 weeks in and we have another classic record discussion: Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division! Unknown Pleasures is the debut studio album by English rock band Joy Division, released on 15 June...

      17 weeks in and we have another classic record discussion: Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division!

      Unknown Pleasures is the debut studio album by English rock band Joy Division, released on 15 June 1979 by Factory Records. The album was recorded and mixed over three successive weekends at Stockport's Strawberry Studios in April 1979, and was produced by Martin Hannett, who incorporated a number of unconventional production techniques into the group's sound. The cover artwork was designed by artist Peter Saville. It is the only Joy Division album released during lead singer Ian Curtis's lifetime.

      Factory Records did not release any singles from Unknown Pleasures, and the album did not chart despite the relative success of the group's non-album debut single "Transmission". It has since received sustained critical acclaim as an influential post-punk album, and has been named as one of the best albums of all time by publications such as NME, AllMusic, Select, and Spin.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Unknown Pleasures! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      12 votes
    11. ~music Listening Club 16 - Body, Mind & Spirit

      Hi, I'm filling in again at the request of @Whom! Welcome to week 16! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: *Body, Mind & Spirit * by Black Renaissance! Taken from @arghdos' pitch: What we...

      Hi, I'm filling in again at the request of @Whom!

      Welcome to week 16! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: *Body, Mind & Spirit * by Black Renaissance!

      Taken from @arghdos' pitch:

      What we have here is a masterpiece of a spiritual jazz album from Henry Whittaker (who is most-well known for his work with Roy Ayer's Ubiquity). Combining call and response styles of Sun Ra (or RRK), modal jazz of Coltrane, and some Herbie space jams into a funky, sinuous groove.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Body, Mind & Spirit. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      7 votes
    12. ~music Listening Club 15 - Songs in the Key of Life

      It's week 15, and time for another classic record discussion: Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder! Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth album by American recording artist Stevie...

      It's week 15, and time for another classic record discussion: Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder!

      Songs in the Key of Life is the eighteenth album by American recording artist Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976, by Motown Records, through its division Tamla Records. It was the culmination of his "classic period" albums. The album was recorded primarily at Crystal Sound studio in Hollywood, with some sessions recorded at the Record Plant in Hollywood, the Record Plant in Sausalito, and The Hit Factory in New York City. Final mixing was performed at Crystal Sound.

      An ambitious double LP with a four-song bonus EP, Songs in the Key of Life became the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album of Wonder's career. In 2003, it was ranked number 57 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2005, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which deemed it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Songs in the Key of Life! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      15 votes
    13. ~music Listening Club 14 - Public Strain

      We're at week 14, friends. Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Public Strain by Women! Taken from @Cleb's pitch: Noisy post-punk that sounds exactly like the image the cover depicts:...

      We're at week 14, friends. Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Public Strain by Women!

      Taken from @Cleb's pitch:

      Noisy post-punk that sounds exactly like the image the cover depicts: Marching your way through a cold wasteland in the middle of a blizzard. It builds a wonderfully hopeless atmosphere and comes together so well.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Public Strain. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      5 votes
    14. ~music Listening Club 13 - Paranoid

      Hey there! We just hit week 13, and it's time for another classic record discussion: Black Sabbath's Paranoid! Paranoid is the second studio album by the English rock band Black Sabbath. Released...

      Hey there! We just hit week 13, and it's time for another classic record discussion: Black Sabbath's Paranoid!

      Paranoid is the second studio album by the English rock band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, it was the band's only LP to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013. Paranoid contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. It is often cited as an influential album in the development of heavy metal music.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Paranoid. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      10 votes
    15. ~music Listening Club 12 - Heart of My Own

      Week 12! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Heart of My Own by Basia Bulat! Taken from @cfabbro's pitch: I would like to nominate Heart Of My Own by Basia Bulat, a Polish-Canadian folk...

      Week 12! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Heart of My Own by Basia Bulat!

      Taken from @cfabbro's pitch:

      I would like to nominate Heart Of My Own by Basia Bulat, a Polish-Canadian folk singer-songwriter. I absolutely adore her and think she is criminally underrated even here in Canada. Oddly enough, she did get a chance to do an NPR Tiny Desk Concert a number of years ago though, which was amazing.

      The Youtube playlist for the album is a bit broken but both Spotify and Soundcloud have the whole thing:
      https://open.spotify.com/album/6KCtZck76UV1ym4mthQOWH
      https://soundcloud.com/basia_bulat/sets/heart-of-my-own

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Heart of My Own. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      10 votes
    16. ~music Listening Club 11 - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!

      Hey! We're on week 11, and it's time for another classic record discussion: Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! Here's the place to discuss your thoughts...

      Hey! We're on week 11, and it's time for another classic record discussion: Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      11 votes
    17. ~music Listening Club 10 - ▣世界から解放され▣

      Hello all you good people, we made it to week 10! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: ▣世界から解放され▣ by ░▒▓新しいデラックスライフ▓▒░ ! From @Cleb: Internet Club takes a bizarre set of samples...

      Hello all you good people, we made it to week 10! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: ▣世界から解放され▣ by ░▒▓新しいデラックスライフ▓▒░ !

      From @Cleb:

      Internet Club takes a bizarre set of samples consisting of things from Dragon Ball to some random Japanese radio show and turns them into a glitchy, repetitive vaporwave project that sounds just a little bit unhinged.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with ▣世界から解放され▣. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on YouTube or bought on Bandcamp.

      8 votes
    18. ~music Listening Club 9 - The Man Machine

      Sup yall, we're here in week 9! It's time for another classic record discussion: Kraftwerk's The Man Machine! (or Die Mensch-Maschine) Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your...

      Sup yall, we're here in week 9! It's time for another classic record discussion: Kraftwerk's The Man Machine! (or Die Mensch-Maschine)

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with The Man Machine. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment! Feel free to do something fun, dumb, or special in celebration of our tenth week!

      8 votes
    19. ~music Listening Club 8 - Exuma

      Hello all you good people, week 8 it is! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Exuma by Exuma! Taking @leech's original pitch: I think it's probably one of the most legendary spiritual...

      Hello all you good people, week 8 it is! Here we've got this week's user-voted record: Exuma by Exuma!

      Taking @leech's original pitch:

      I think it's probably one of the most legendary spiritual albums recorded, a look into some Junkanoo, Carnival, and Calypso music with a raw, ecstatic energy behind each song. His music is truly unique and nothing has quite reached it.
      The story of Exuma's music is really captivating and later on in his career he toured with some big names

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Exuma. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on YouTube here or purchased physically here.

      8 votes
    20. ~music Listening Club 7 - Highway 61 Revisited

      Hi folks, sorry for the late post. @Whom is sick and wasn't able to post this today so she asked me to do it. Hello all you good people, here we are in week number 7! It's time for another classic...

      Hi folks, sorry for the late post. @Whom is sick and wasn't able to post this today so she asked me to do it.

      Hello all you good people, here we are in week number 7! It's time for another classic record discussion: Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited!

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Highway 61 Revisited. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      9 votes
    21. ~music Listening Club 4 - Weather Systems

      Welcome to week four! This week we focus on another user-voted record: Weather Systems by Anathema. Puling @deciduous' original pitch : Weather Systems is an interesting album to me because it is...

      Welcome to week four! This week we focus on another user-voted record: Weather Systems by Anathema.

      Puling @deciduous' original pitch :

      Weather Systems is an interesting album to me because it is both immediately catchy, but also very dense. It was specifically created to be an emotional experience that required engagement by the listener and bot does it deliver on that front. Each song flows well into the next and has a different a unique emotional resonance. "Lightning Song" is intense in a way few other songs are and "The Beginning and the End" is one of my favorite tracks ever for its fantastic piano riff that carries throughout the song. If you're at all into post or prog rock, this album is perfect for you.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the band, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Weather Systems. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and listen / comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      7 votes
    22. ~music Listening Club 6 - Postcards

      Week six it is! This week we focus on another user-voted record: Postcards by Meadowlark. Pulling @Gyrfalcon's original nomination: I'm going to suggest Postcards by Meadowlark again. I'm not...

      Week six it is! This week we focus on another user-voted record: Postcards by Meadowlark.

      Pulling @Gyrfalcon's original nomination:

      I'm going to suggest Postcards by Meadowlark again. I'm not great at describing why music is good, so I will just leave the music video of the title track.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the band, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Postcards. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and listen / comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      4 votes
    23. ~music Listening Club 5 - A Love Supreme

      Hi everyone, glad to see you here in week number 5! It's time for another classic record discussion: John Coltrane's A Love Supreme! Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your...

      Hi everyone, glad to see you here in week number 5! It's time for another classic record discussion: John Coltrane's A Love Supreme!

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with A Love Supreme. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      12 votes
    24. ~music Listening Club 3 - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

      Week three, everyone! Last week's obscure record pick went well, and here we are with another classic record discussion: Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)! Here's the place to discuss...

      Week three, everyone! Last week's obscure record pick went well, and here we are with another classic record discussion: Wu-Tang Clan's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)!

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the artist, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with 36 Chambers. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      Don't forget to nominate and vote for next week's obscure record in response to this comment!

      14 votes
    25. ~music Listening Club 2 - Dancing Time

      The second week of our listening club is here already! This week we focus on our first user-voted obscure record: Dancing Time, the Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77. Here is...

      The second week of our listening club is here already! This week we focus on our first user-voted obscure record: Dancing Time, the Best of Eastern Nigeria's Afro Rock Exponents 1973-77.

      Here is the pitch given by @arghdos :

      I'll nominate The Funkees': Dancing Time. This is some of the best afro-funk that has made it's way to the west. Bandcamp had a great feature on the Funkees a few years ago, they started as a band right at the end of the Nigerian civil war, and became defining proponents of Nigerian funk (along with the Hykkers, BLO, etc.) in the shadow the the giant in the room (i.e., Fela). They were much more influenced by sounds like James Brown and Santana (e.g., check out this ridiculously good cover of War's Slippin' Into Darkness), and present an entirely different side of mid-70's Nigerian music. In 1973, they moved to London and released two albums under John Peel before disbanding under internal strife in 1977. This album collects all their released Nigerian 45's with the best of the London recorded material.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the band, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with Dancing Time. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream or buy the album, it can be found on most platforms here.

      16 votes
    26. ~music Listening Club 1 - OK Computer

      Here it is, the first album of our listening club: OK Computer by Radiohead. This is the first of the odd week classic-focused posts, and you get get further details on this project here. I'll...

      Here it is, the first album of our listening club: OK Computer by Radiohead. This is the first of the odd week classic-focused posts, and you get get further details on this project here. I'll stop spamming ~music with posts about this now, we'll only have one a week from here on out.

      Here's the place to discuss your thoughts on the record, your history with it or the band, and basically talk about whatever you want to that goes along with OK Computer. Remember that this is intended to be a slow moving thing, feel free to take your time and comment at any point in the week!

      If you'd like to stream the album, it can be found on most streaming platforms here.

      --

      Vote on next week's album here, we currently have a 7 way tie that needs to be broken!

      27 votes
    27. ~music Listening Club 0 - Outline and Prep

      Alright, so in the ideas thread, several of you expressed that you'd like / it would be more active if we went for a listening club that goes for something more general. As I think ~music is in a...

      Alright, so in the ideas thread, several of you expressed that you'd like / it would be more active if we went for a listening club that goes for something more general. As I think ~music is in a bit of a rough spot right now and needs a little more to bind it together, I'm going to try and have a bit of a hybrid solution that can hopefully be interesting for a lot of us.

      Again, the idea is to come together and listen to the same record each week, discussing our thoughts on that album over the course of that week in these threads. For now, let's make our goal to build a community and become familiar with the thoughts, tastes, and musical histories of each other!

      For every odd numbered week, we will listen to an acclaimed or important album of some kind that will hopefully have far-reaching appeal. I'm going to exercise my own judgement in picking these out of the qualifying albums, but expect them to be the OK Computers, A Love Supremes, and Illmatics of the world. If and when we reach a point where we've exhausted too many of these classics, we can restructure or retire this listening club.

      For every even numbered week, we will listen to a more obscure record as voted on by the participants of the thread. For an initial guide, as stolen from @Eva, we will define "obscure" simply as not being certified Gold (or anything higher, of course). This is of course a very loose definition of the term, but it's at least a concrete starting place. As ~ gives us a raw vote count, we will do this through voting on comments. All nominations must be made as a reply to my top level comment. Everything else will be ignored, and this will help keep things organized once this voting occurs on a thread that's dedicated to its own week's record. If it becomes necessary, we can vote on an external platform.

      I'm open to suggestions on how to change this process, but let's try to run it like this for a little bit. I don't want to get caught in that loop where you have so many tweaks and find so many flaws that you don't end up doing anything at all.

      The first thread will be posted tomorrow (Thursday the 21st here) and will continue on from there weekly.

      When we start our first record, feel free to listen, comment, and vote throughout the week. ~ gives us an opportunity to bump things and keep discussion going for a bit longer than Reddit, so let's take advantage of that where we can.

      16 votes
    28. ~music Listening Clubs: Ideas + Planning

      Okay everyone, so with the grand total of one response (and being informed that it's apparently been discussed before) saying there's interest in setting up a listening club, I'm going to try and...

      Okay everyone, so with the grand total of one response (and being informed that it's apparently been discussed before) saying there's interest in setting up a listening club, I'm going to try and get something going. Even if it's just a few of us, it seems like a fun thing to me.

      For anyone that doesn't know, a listening club is pretty much what it sounds like, we choose an album and all listen to it over the course of the week, with discussion on it occurring in the weekly threads. Over the club's length, the idea is generally to better understand the subject of the club, usually being a genre, movement, or era.

      There's a few ways to go about deciding what to listen for these. We could go by outside lists, allow users running listening clubs to curate their own listening lists (my preferred method just because it's so easy to set up), or vote every week for the next record. The last option seems the most natural, but also requires a certain level of community involvement that may not be reliable, and it gets a little bit awkward before the hierarchy system is running / before we have a trust system or community moderators.

      So, what do you guys think? How would you like to see these organized? What should we start with, since a general "all music" listening club doesn't seem quite right? Do you want to participate in these at all? I'm willing to manage anything yall want to do, but I would personally love to do user-curated ones and run my own hip hop essentials club. Of course, that requires trusting an individual to do their own thing, which may not be where we want to go...up to all of you.

      12 votes