Album of the week

The Verve - a Northern Soul (1995) I dig it, but since the full album isn't actually here, I’m passing on voting.

Madrugada – Industrial Silence (1999) The first couple of tracks really hit for me, but the rest of the record just drags. I guess I'll vote for it though, mostly because I haven't had the time to sit down and listen to the others properly.

Crowbar - time Heals Nothing (1995) I usually love metal, but somehow this one just didn't click for me.

I skimmed through the rest pretty quickly, so I can't really make a call on those.

Another killer week. Had to really FILTER my choices—ended up dropping 6 votes.

brightwolf48 said:I won't play the Amigo card—mostly because I love American music just as much as she does—but even then, there’s a difference. This week, the master suggested a killer album, and naturally, that kind of country or folk music hits differently compared to other similar records from that era.

Look, let me give you a straight answer. I was having a rough day.

You're calling me contradictory? Why? Because I said it was a "really, really great album" and then added that Sandoval "gets exhausting after half an hour"? I feel that way about plenty of albums. Quality and how long you can actually sit through something aren't mutually exclusive.

So, I'm being contradictory, huh? How am I supposed to be some irrelevant nobody with no opinion one second, and then a big-shot Amigo the next? I wasn't trying to be offensive—honestly, I was just trying to keep things light and joking around to keep you here—but after that incredibly rude post of yours, I'd actually be pretty happy if you just went into self-imposed exile for a while.

And no, you don't know the first thing about American music.

Honestly, today has been one of those absolute worst days I've had in a long time...
I don't even know what it is. It’s not even the humidity, but there's just something in the air.

Accident, maybe I was a bit harsh with you yesterday. You definitely got under my skin, but I shouldn't have snapped like that—it's not really my thing. My apologies... As for that album you suggested, it's honestly the only thing that's cheered me up today. It really hit the spot, thanks!

Neurosis is one of those alternative bands that actually delivers, featuring top-tier albums and a frontman who knows what he's doing.

Both of them are massive fans of Townes, and they’ve even done a couple of covers of his tracks.

CLICK

They also have solo projects out there that are absolutely worth your time if you want to dig deeper.

I'm honestly pretty stoked that they're being featured as the album of the week; I can't wait for the intro.

Amanda Lopez50 said:it's obvious you aren't exactly a young girl—you clearly haven't even read 😁 Rookie 🙂

man, this is just so wrong.
when I work, I'm working with younger people.
they have the same—if not even more—devotion to culture than my generation did (and honestly, I'm a bit older than you). plus, they're smarter—simply because info is way easier to find now than it was back in our day. culture is right at their fingertips too; they aren't stuck with whatever someone happens to have on a shared drive, or what they pick up from a street vendor, or what some older brother brings home.
even when they come from really rough backgrounds, they're curious and they keep surprising me.
but the world around them has changed and sped up—they have even less time than we ever had. the pressure is higher. there's just less room for outlets like this, especially now that we're all totally burnt out by screens.

there have always been those who love punk, those who love Depeche Mode, and those who love Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. we used to tend to seek out people most like ourselves—but now, being hyper-connected and dealing with media bias (which has only gotten worse), we're forced to see everything.
and we'll always be a little nostalgic for our own youth, no matter how it was.

just wanted to say: the kids are alright 🙂

as for commenting: look, I've been wanting to finish Mazzy Star for days now. It's a beautiful album and a great thread starter, and I really wanted to chime in so it didn't feel like someone's effort went unnoticed. but it's just been an exhausting month and I'm wiped—I can't find the time for every song or the mental energy for any deep thoughts. it's not a lack of enthusiasm or respect for the OP, just pure exhaustion. and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

appropriate gif from a series I didn't finish—because I was tired, and honestly, it sucked 🙂

Nobody said they aren't devoted to culture—I'm just saying it doesn't shape their identity the way it did 20, 30, or 40 years ago; nowadays, it's just part of the daily consumer basket.

Dennis Hall41 said:Look, nobody’s saying they aren't dedicated to the culture—I'm just pointing out that it doesn't build your identity the way it did 20, 30, or 40 years ago. Now, it's basically just another item in your weekly grocery haul.

So yeah, everything's exactly the same as it ever was. 😁

Dennis Martin6 said:basically, nothing has changed. 😁

Nah.
Culture doesn't exist without fetishism—period. Whether it's a totem or a vinyl record, every culture is built on something tangible. That’s why obsessing over music formats feels so much more intense—it's about that physical connection. This whole idea of "consuming" books online just feels... hollow.

Dennis Hall41 said:Wrong.
Culture doesn't exist without fetishism. Whether we're talking about some ancient totem or a vinyl record, culture is built on the physical stuff. That’s why obsessing over music formats is all about variety and how fast they burn out. This whole idea of "consuming" books online? It sounds pathetic.

Yeah, well—fetishism is exactly what landed us here. Maybe it's time to rethink the whole foundation. The answer definitely isn't staring longingly at the rearview mirror; you've gotta be ruthless with the past! 🙂

Dennis Martin6 said:Yeah, honestly—fetishizing the past is exactly how we ended up in this mess. Maybe it’s high time we rethink those old-school settings. Looking back through rose-colored glasses isn't the answer—we need to be ruthless about facing what happened. 🙂

Man, please—spare me that weak, small-town Bolshevik rhetoric. You're better than that, I know you are.

I can pull it off—but can you? 😁

Talking about some old-school Marxist reckoning with the past? Man, he wouldn't even dare—not if he actually had a shot! 😁

I’m sensing some major incel bitterness coming from you, man—you a total fascist or what? 😁

Man, is this basic, trendy poetry really all that’s left of your old high-brow intellect, Dennis Martin6?😁

Come on, man—you turned this whole thing into a total chick fight! 🤦

Dennis Martin6 said:Man, you really turned this into a total chick fight! 🤦

Seriously though—who are you trying to impress with all those foreign terms?😁

R.E.M. - Out of Time (1991)



Can you believe this album just hit its 30th anniversary? Time flies... seriously!

The Tracks

1. Radio Song
2. Losing My Religion
3. Low
4. Near Wild Heaven
5. Endgame
6. Shiny Happy People
7. Belong
8. Half a World Away
9. Texarkana
10. Country Feedback
11. Me in Honey

Opeth - My Arms

Blue October - Approaching Normal (2009)



01. Weight of The World 02.
02. Say It
03. Dirt room 04.
04. Been down 05.
05. my never 06.
06. Should be Loved 07.
07. Kangaroo Cry 08.
08. Picking up Pieces 09.
09. Jump Rop 10.
10. Blue Skies 11.
11. Blue Does 12.
12. The end
13. Graceful Dancing

Fugazi - Repeater (1990)

Tracklist:

01. Turnover
02. Repeater
03. Brendan
04. Merchandise
05. Blueprint
06. Sieve-Fisted Find 07.
07. Greed
08. Two Beats OFF 09.
09. Styrofoam
10. Reprovisional
11. Shut The Door