Album of the week

Lisa Davis46 said:I honestly just came here to cry because I can't believe RHP didn't make the cut. 😢 🙂

Dennis Hall41, just start the thread anyway...

No worries, but personally, I wouldn't put "Album of the Week" in the title—doesn't feel right, you know?

Dennis Hall41 said:No biggie, but personally, I wouldn't put "Album of the Week" right in the title... feels a bit off, doesn't it?

Exactly, leave out the 🙂
prefix!

I know some people are going to be annoyed by this post, but whatever... honestly, I’m just generally disappointed with albums lately. I don't even know why this hits me so hard. It’s like overnight, the whole concept just lost all meaning to me.
This was a topic I actually cared about, something that made me take music seriously and kept me digging for new stuff.

So what, are we just picking albums for the hell of it now? Can someone please explain why everyone needed this sudden rush and what's actually going on... are you guys really that bored?

Now I think I finally get where analogbear40 and accident were coming from with all those complaints about the topic lately. I guess I’ll have to take a long break from this after seeing a hundred of these...

Dennis Hall41 said:No biggie, but personally I wouldn't put "Album of the Week" in the title. It just feels wrong, you know?

fass, if nothing else, I'm looking forward to your thread opening. Look, you know I can't stand Kozelek (the guy honestly just gets on my nerves), but this album is a masterpiece. It really shouldn't be getting snubbed like this at the last second. It bugs me how some people have been playing tactics lately, waiting until the very end to vote. Why even bother?

Dennis Hall41 said:So, I was just falling down a rabbit hole looking at the history behind Slowdive - Souvlaki, and man, it’s such a trip how much weight this one record carries. It’s basically the blueprint, right? You can’t talk about that whole shoegaze movement without talking about this. It’s one of those albums where everything just *clicks*—the atmosphere, the textures, that wall of sound that somehow feels incredibly intimate at the same time. It’s funny because back then, people didn't really get it. They were too busy looking at their shoes or whatever, but now? It’s legendary. Every time I hear "When the Sun Hits," I’m just floored by how it manages to feel both massive and heartbreakingly fragile. It’s like they captured lightning in a bottle. I know some people try to act all high and mighty about certain genres, but honestly? I Beg to Differ when it comes to the impact this stuff had. It wasn't just noise; it was architecture. It was building these huge, swirling sonic spaces that most bands today can only dream of touching. If you haven't sat in a dark room with a good pair of headphones and let this thing wash over you, have you even lived? Seriously. It’s a total vibe, and frankly, it’s kind of unfair how much better it is than half the stuff coming out on the charts today.)

Look at those ratings—okay, sure, some of them are retroactive (Pitchfork, though if they’d actually been around in 1993, they probably would've trashed them even harder), but those 3s and 4s definitely aren't just people being haters. Honestly, critics tend to go way overboard with high scores all the time anyway. Personally? I don't think I'd give more than maybe twenty—thirty max—top marks out of every single album I've ever heard. And that's only about 1% of the albums I've actually listened to.

It didn't get the kind of love that some of their other albums did—and honestly? That really stung the band. It wasn't even just about the actual scores, if you know what I mean—it was more those biting, side-eyed comments that came along with them. Those little jabs always hurt way more than the numbers themselves.

By the way, those guys were only like 22 or 23 when *Souvlaki* dropped—I mean, they were practically kids! They were still teenagers when they were working on *Just for a Day*. Can you even imagine?

I honestly think those albums are pretty mature for where they were at the time—I mean, seriously—but then again, I get why some people on here might call them green.

Look, everyone’s just throwing scores around today like they're playing darts at a dive bar—it's totally arbitrary. Honestly? I actually agree with the sentiment here: we really need some actual criteria in place. It shouldn't just be a free-for-all, right?

cosmiccobra2 said:So close, yet so incredibly far—we honestly could've had the first turbo-folk album of the week sitting right in front of us. 🤣

edit: right at this exact moment someone actually went and voted for Jay! 🎉

Look, it’s not exactly my cup of tea—not even close—but let’s be real: a huge chunk of people absolutely love this kind of music. It makes total sense that it came out on top. Honestly, it was pretty much inevitable. 🤷

Jason Mendoza said:That whole indie rock era? It was everywhere. Like, everyone who was actually alive was listening to it—just a constant stream of Interpol and all that other garbage. Honestly, I stayed far away from it because it felt completely soul-less and just plain boring. Not that I had much choice, though—by that point, I was already deep into my college years.

And that’s where we finally hit the generational gap, isn't it? It’s just not the same feeling—I mean, really, how can it be? Hearing this kind of music for the first time when you're stuck in elementary school versus hearing it once you've actually made it to college... it's a completely different universe.

That’s exactly why Paul Simon just doesn't do it for me—I mean, look, it’s not like the album is bad or anything, but it just doesn't hit that specific spot I'm looking for, you know? It misses that spark entirely. 🤷
I honestly find myself tying him back to my parents way more than I do to myself—it's like, why even bother?

Steven Newman50 said:It's settled. 🙂 The threads are being kicked off by quietbison86 and Jessica Morris6. I was honestly about to pitch two debut albums myself, but since it’s been ages since Jessica Morris6 started a thread, let's go with a popular vote—even if it's the first one this year.

Look, the whole point of this thread is to review whatever we’re actually listening to most often right now. Sure, people expect us to just circle back to classic rock or those legendary cult albums over and over, but even from the very beginning, we knew that wasn't how this would work.

We want variety here—different styles, different vibes. And honestly? The fact that something might not be everyone's cup of tea is exactly what makes for a good debate (which is why suggestions are wide open). I put my vote in for Paul Simon, but Jay already had more votes anyway, which is pretty significant. Same goes for Slowdive.

And finally, just to clear the air for anyone who hasn't quite caught on yet: regarding the split between Pop and Root... the distinction isn't strictly about the genre itself, it's about the actual style of conversation happening on the subforums. Technically, you could have threads for Lady Gaga, Rihanna, or even Nada Mamula on either board, but you should expect a totally different vibe in how people talk about them.

So, what's the deadline for opening a thread?

It's obvious—the way people communicate on those two boards is night and day.

Lisa Davis46 said:I know this might rub some people the wrong way, but I’m posting it anyway... honestly, I’m just feeling generally disillusioned with these albums lately, and I can't quite put my finger on why it's hitting me this hard. It feels like overnight, the whole point of this thread just evaporated...
this was a topic I actually cared about, the kind of thing that pushed me to take music seriously and constantly dig for something new.

Are we just picking albums for the hell of it now, or what? Can someone please explain why everyone felt the need to go on this sudden crusade and what exactly is going on... have you all just gotten that bored?

I think I finally get where analogbear40 and accident were coming from with all those complaints about the thread recently. Honestly, after dealing with a hundred of these, I think I might need to step away for a while...

Look, if you've got a specific problem, then say it—give me a name and a face. Do you really think your personal taste is the only thing that matters here? If I could stomach listening to some indie singer from Portland singing about her monthly cycle, surely you could find the dignity to keep your opinions to yourself. Half the winners of these polls are total nonsense to me too; it wouldn't be strange if they weren't. It's not the end of the world because of it.

Lisa Davis46 said:fass, if nothing else, looking forward to your opening post. You know I usually can't stand Kozelek (the guy just rubs me the wrong way), but this album is a masterpiece. It really shouldn't be getting snubbed at the last second like this. Honestly, it bugs me how some people have been playing tactics lately—waiting until the very last minute to vote. What's the point?

I didn't know—well, you hadn't mentioned it. Do you mean his whole persona outside of music just grates on you, or is it everything since RHP/this album that gets under your skin, or both? If he's just not your vibe, I get it: the guy definitely has a messiah complex. He even had that outburst on Rollercoaster—that "I Can Still Feel the Sting in my Hand from When I Hit You" bit in the otherwise beautiful Down Through. It’s actually because the context is so lovely that the line hits so hard, being sung so nonchalantly and without any filter.

To be real, I was planning on voting later too—maybe a few hours before midnight—since I wanted to sit down and listen to all the albums in full. Instead, I ended up skimming half of them in ten-minute chunks. Once I realized I wasn't going to make it, I just threw my votes toward Will Oldham, Primus, Slowdive, and RHP. There were plenty of other albums I would've voted for, but I didn't want to go overboard.

Lisa Davis46 said:Look, I know some people are gonna take this the wrong way, but whatever... honestly, I’m just feeling totally let down by these albums—I don't even know why this hit me so hard. It's like overnight, the whole point of this topic just vanished.
It was the one thing I actually cared about, the reason I took music seriously and kept digging for new stuff.

Are we just picking albums for the hell of it now? Can someone please explain why everyone suddenly needs this much hype... or did things just get that boring?

Now I kind of get where analogbear40 and accident were coming from with all those complaints lately. I think I might need to step away for a while—maybe a long break after this one...

Look, it's not actually that bad that we got an Album of the Week with this kind of poetic vibe, and hey, I'm glad Jessica Morris6 finally got picked. I guess I'm just annoyed because I know some genuinely great stuff didn't even get three votes—like when Jay suggested Nada Mamula and Tom Zdravković. When I listen to this kind of music, it's mostly just for fun, but guys like those two are actual masters at what they do. I'm not gonna be out there singing along and breaking glasses to it, but I'll listen to it the same way I listen to good blues—it's not really my main genre, but I respect it when it's done perfectly.

I think taking a break would be super premature. So, please don't go.

Lisa Davis46 said:So, are we just picking albums for the hell of it now or what? Seriously... can someone please walk me through why we needed this whole sudden buildup? What is even happening here... and did you guys honestly get that bored?

Everything is going exactly by the rules we set! The whole point here is just to dive into these albums together... even if they aren't everyone's cup of tea. Honestly, that’s the best part because it gives us so much more to actually talk about! Plus, we have this huge mountain of older albums sitting there that barely anyone has even mentioned yet. We can always dig those up and start a conversation, right?... 🙂 And we're still just sitting here waiting for one of this week's slots to finally open up... seriously...

quietbison86 said:Wait, so when’s the actual deadline for opening a thread?... I can't remember if I missed it or what...

There’s no hard deadline on this, but honestly? You should probably jump on it ASAP. Especially since everyone on the forums seems way more pumped up and ready to chat over the weekend... 😉

Steven Newman50 said:Everything’s following the rules we set. The whole point here is reviewing albums together—even if they aren't everyone's cup of tea—which actually gives us way more to talk about.

Honestly, I’m crossing my fingers that Elvis Presley won—mostly because some people voted just to force a clash of musical tastes, and man, I really hope they don't actually mean it. Trust me, I know way too many people who built up killer taste when they were young, only to hit a rough patch lately and pivot straight to Apple, Tim McGraw, Britney Spears, and all that other synthetic, soulless garbage—when you consider that Adele, Tom Cruise, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, and Johnny Cash are the real Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts.

Elvis's album is definitely a messier pick, though—and I'm telling you, I find it hard to believe that some much better suggestions didn't even grab a couple of votes.

It'd be like reacting the same way if someone blasted Master of Puppets for a week and then somehow ended up picking Reload a few weeks later.

But fine, I get it, everything went by the book.

Look, unlike the big names over at Halliburton and those other modern pop stars—who, if you ask me, are just total posers with zero actual talent—Elvis Presley actually brings something to the table. I mentioned this in the other thread, but I really do respect what he does. You can find something worthwhile in pretty much any genre, and honestly, Elvis is only halfway there; he’s got that soulful, dive-bar vibe to him.

I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of that kind of music personally. I usually enjoy it more through parody or when someone breaks it down, which just goes to show I can still appreciate the style in a different way... kind of like how Bo Burnham does it. It's worth pointing out, though. We have to give credit where it's due! And that's really the heart of the whole debate here.

Maybe having something this polarizing is actually a good thing? It totally shakes things up and keeps us from getting bored with the same old topics. Some people might decide they're done talking about it entirely, but most of us seem to be ready to keep the conversation moving forward!

Steven Newman50 said:Unlike Halliburton and those other modern pop stars—who I honestly think are just basic posers without any actual talent—Elvis Presley actually brings something to the table, and I’ve mentioned before that I respect him for it. You can find value in any genre, and let's be real, Elvis is only partially mainstream; he's got that soulful, dive-bar vibe to him.

I'm not really a fan of that kind of music myself—maybe more through parody or deconstructing it—which, I guess, shows that I can still enjoy the genre in a way that isn't the original version (like Bo Burnham). It's worth pointing out, though. That's where my take comes from.

Maybe having something this polarizing is actually good because it "breaks up the monotony." Some people might decide they're done with the topic, but most feel like we're moving the conversation forward.

What do you mean by not being original? So you wouldn't dig this?



Sonia definitely wasn't just joking around when she acted in this video. We're talking about someone with incredible intelligence, sensitivity, and genuine taste.

Honestly, I think Hulet is genuinely good. He’s got actual talent, he isn't just some poser putting on an act... I can listen to at least 20 of his tracks and really enjoy them.

Dennis Hall41 said:What do you mean it's not original? Like, you wouldn't dig this at all?

Sonja definitely didn't just jump into this music video as a joke. We're talking about someone with incredible intelligence, pure soul, and amazing taste...

No way, especially not with those hardcore vibes😁

But honestly, Toma Zdravković looking like this is actually alright with me.

I don't know, maybe it's just that the whole rural aesthetic doesn't really click for me, even though I can't quite figure out how these two are even similar...

Mark Cruz15 said:Honestly, Hulet is legit. He actually has talent—he isn't just some poser. I’ve got at least 20 tracks of his that I genuinely vibe with.

Look, at the very least, it's pure, unapologetic country music—the guy doesn't even pretend his comfort zone is anything other than flashy models, expensive wine, and smashing glasses. But when some small-town wannabe comes along acting like a total creep, trying way too hard to be this "urban-meets-rural" hybrid—balancing between country, reggaeton, pop, and trap—it's just too much. It's exhausting.

Dennis Hall41 said:Even if nothing else, at least it’s authentic country music; the guy isn't even trying to pretend his comfort zone is anything other than flashy dolls, cheap wine, and smashing glasses. But when some small-town wannabe comes along, smelling like desperation and trying way too hard to be this "urban-rural" hybrid—trying to balance between country hits, reggaeton, pop, and trap—to think he'd actually appeal to everyone... well, that's just being delusional.

What you're getting at doesn't have anything to do with Hulet. He’s a classic country artist, which is light years away from all that trap nonsense being pushed by guys like MC Stojan or Rasta...

Mark Cruz15 said:What you're talking about has nothing to do with Hulet. He’s just your classic country singer—totally different from all that trap nonsense guys like MC Stojan or Rasta are pushing nowadays.

Read the post again—I never said he was like that. I called him a classic hack. He isn't even "classic country" per se; we shouldn't be grouping him in with Ilić or Muslimović because the sound is completely different, and honestly, he's two levels below them.

Steven Newman50 said:There isn't a strict deadline, but honestly? You should probably get on it ASAP. People on the forums are way more likely to actually post and hang out over the weekend. 😉

Alright, fine—the topic will be live today or tomorrow. 🙂

Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

If You All Get To Heaven
If You Let Me Stay
Wishing Well
I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words)
Dance Little Sister
Seven More Days
Let's Go Forward
Rain
Sign Your Name
As Yet Untitled
Who's Lovin' You

This debut from a killer R&B artist dropped right when Prince and MJ were basically running the whole damn game. Terrence really shows off what he can do, both behind the mic and with the pen.

Yob - The Unreal never lived



1. Quantum Mystic
2. Grasping Air
3. Kosmos
4. The Mental Tyrant

Yob is a doom metal trio out of Eugene, Oregon—just a stone's throw from Lebanon, if anyone needs a map of the Pacific Northwest. Their sound is basically heavy-duty doom with a healthy dose of stoner influence; it’s intense, it’s crushing, and it doesn't pull any punches. They’ve put out eight albums over the years, and while their discography stays pretty consistent in terms of quality, this one is my personal favorite, so here we go.