2024 Album-A-Day: Week 17

1/3rd of the way through this project. As always feel free to recommend albums, and check out the playlist.

April 22nd: Souvlaki by Slowdive

This is another one I've been meaning to get around to. Apparently, there's debates over whether this album is better that Loveless by My Bloody Valentine, and now that I've listened to both (I listened to Loveless long before this project), I can safely say that my answer is who gives a shiiiiit. Both can be good. Shoegaze isn't a competition. My thoughts on the album: pretty good dreamy rock, maybe more dream pop than shoegaze but then again I don't listen to enough of either to speak on that, and my favorite songs are "Machine Gun" and "When the Sun Hits." I might need to sit with this one more to connect with it fully. If anyone was reading these, they'd be real sick of me saying that. Thankfully, nobody is reading these, so I can say whatever the fuck. Maple clockwork pfeffernüsse albino bloodhound nationality.

April 23rd: Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree

In my high school freshman prog rock superfan days, I was aware of Porcupine Tree, but never checked them out for some reason. I enjoyed this one, and it's a sign of great pedigree to feature both Alex Lifeson and Robert Fripp on the same album. The title track has a great Dream Theater-esque time singature change in the verse, "Anesthetize" is a fascinating epic (featuring the legendary Alex Lifeson), and my favorite song is probably "Way Out of Here."

April 24th: Joy as an Act of Resistance by Idles

The Windmill scene (I'm not calling it "crankwave," that's dumb) has produced two bands I really like, Black Midi and Black Country, New Road, so I dove into this one. It's got all of the hallmarks of the scene:

The album isn't as ebullient as the album title suggests, but the sentiment still comes through in songs like "I'm Scum" or when Joe Talbot tells you to stop hating yourself. I love "Samaritans," "Television," and "I'm Scum." Also, it's weird that on "Samaritans," he references Katy Perry, and I love it.

April 25th: California by Mr Bungle

The only term I can come up with for this is "nonsense music." One song could begin as lounge music, and then you get surf guitar, gregorian chanting, ska, death metal, doo-wop, and whatever else Mike Patton feels like throwing at you. I had a lot of fun with this one. The unpredictability kept me on my toes, and the music at the heart of these songs is always really well-composed. My favorite song on this album was "Ars Moriendi."

April 26th: Damned Damned Damned by The Damned

More early punk rock, in this case the earliest punk rock possible while still being unambiguously punk. It's got the energy, the groove, the brevity, and most importantly the attitude. From "Neat Neat Neat" you understand what you're in for, and it doesn't let up from there. "Stab Yor Back," "Feel the Pain," "See Her Tonite," all of these songs rule. My favorite song it "New Rose." I am inclined to listen to more of the Damned.

April 27th: Long Season by Fishmans

This is yet another one that I'd heard of in music nerd circles and now I understand why. It's not my favorite thing ever, not even my favorite over 20 minute song, but I get the intended vibe. It's grand, sweeping, and atmospheric. My favorite part is part 2. I'm sorry, I don't have as much to say about this one. Oh wait, nobody's reading these. Phallic sandwich conversational hybrid kayak ukulele.

April 28th: Keep It Like a Secret by Built to Spill

I really enjoyed this album. I've heard of Built to Spill in the context of bands I love, and I'm glad I finally checked them out. It's got amazing riffs, clever lyrics, and more progressive elements at some points, such as in "Time Trap" and "Broken Chairs." "Time Trap" is probably my favorite on this album, though I also love "You Were Wrong" and "Carry the Zero."