The idea for this thread was created out of the Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the Decade (so far) thread, and was created for the purpose of discovering new acclaimed music. I have already discovered so much great music through the discussion in this thread, and it really expanded my musical knowledge of this decade. For the purposes of this thread, any music release within this decade (2010s) may be discussed in this thread for the sole purpose of spreading quality music that is relevant now to anyone who wishes to be exposed to it.
Post standout tracks from albums you have listened to, and/or recommend albums to fans of a certain genre or style of music. Just discuss acclaimed music in general, whether it be from Pop, Indie, Rock, Alternative, Folk, Electronic or any genre in between. This thread might not always be active, but I will try to keep it up with whatever relevant music release or event is occurring in the realm of acclaimed music. The discussion in this thread really should not be constrained or limited, but this thread is not for discussion of any female pop release that is not really acclaimed.
Here are some links below for some publications that are relevant to this thread:
And of course when discussing any music release's acclaim the both famous and infamous Metacritic has to a part of that discussion in some way, shape, or form. Any 2010s release on this site that has received "Universal acclaim" (indicated by a score of 81+) may definitely be discussed in this thread. Please use your own discretion on whether it is relevant to discuss an album/release that has received "Generally favorable reviews" (80-61) though, especially when discussing any album on or near the fringe of mediocrity (70 or below). Thank you.
So I guess I will start this thread off by posting my responses to listening to the three of the first albums on the Pitchfork Top 100 Albums list in which I had never heard before.
My thoughts on Vampire Weekend's 'Modern Vampires of the City':
Quote:
Originally posted by Inception
Ok, just got through listening to Vampire Weekend's 'Modern Vampires of the City' (number six on this list) for the first time, and I am in love with this album. It is just so eclectic from start to finish and there are so many standout tracks. "Unbelievers", "Step", "Diane Young", "Hannah Hunt", "Everlasting Arms", "Finger Back", "Worship You", "Ya Hey", and "Young Lion" are definitely my favorite tracks from the album. It was such a pleasure to listen to this album from beginning to end. One great track after another, but I would have to give the best track to "Ya Hey". Wow, what a euphoric experience to listen to that the first time through. I love the quirkiness of the backing vocals in combination with the soaring chorus. Simply an incredible track. I would recommend this album to any lover of Indie Pop or Rock music. You will not regret giving this album a listen!
My throughts on Sun Kil Moon's 'Benji':
Quote:
Originally posted by Inception
Yes, it really is a great musical experience. I just finished the last track on the album right now, and I have go to say, that it was unlike anything I have heard (that has been released in the last few years). It is straightforward lyrically, but in the most brilliant way. The standouts for me were "Carissa", "Truck Driver", "Pray for Newtown", "Jim Wise", "I Watched The Film The Song Remains The Same", "Micheline", and "Ben's My Friend". The standout for me would have to be "Jim Wise", even though there are simply so many great songs, this one conveys so much emotion and has a unique sound to it that makes it particularly beautiful in its simplicity. There are so many moments of melancholy, but his voice is just so perfect in its execution, that it makes the songs a pleasure to listen to, even if it is a pleasure that is veiled slightly in sorrow. I would definitely recommend this album to fans of any genre really; I think anyone can relate to what Sun Kil Moon is conveying through his work on this album. It's great to see after listening to it how much it really deserves its place on this list.
My thoughts on Flying Lotus' 'Cosmogramma':
Quote:
Originally posted by Inception
So I just finished listening to my last album of the three I chose, which was 'Cosmogramma' by Flying Lotus, and damn it is nothing like I expected. Each track seems to be a very brief musical thought or idea that the artist had, with the album being an array of these thoughts all strung together masterfully. Essentially, Flying Lotus knows that 'Cosmogramma' is extremely experimental in nature, and is not afraid to veil this by making the album flow or become homogenized, which I think is very courageous as an artist and makes this album shine. There are really no "standout tracks" as each song is its own separate piece (even though a few of them seemingly work in tandem). In short, I enjoyed every moment of the album, but am still unsure where its strongest and weakest points were. It is more of an experience rather than simply listening to an album (it's kind of difficult to explain really), but I enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves experimental music, and who appreciate an artist who is willing to expand what an album has to be, and even what genre has to be in a sense.
My goal is to get through the entire Top 100 list as it has already had a pretty massive impact on my perceptions of the 2010s decade of music.
Modern Vampires of the City is incredible. Obvious Bicycle and Hannah Hunt and even Diane Young immediately stand out, but the entire album is just so textured and well recorded. There's an incredible depth of sound and liveliness to the production that completely separate it from most releases in recent years. Easily one of the two best produced albums of the year (alongside Random Access Memories).
Have you listened to Vampire Weekend's first two albums now? Not quite as amazing as MVOTC, but still great (especially their debut).
The top 15 of that list is really great (The Idler Wheel in particular) so I'm definitely inclined to try listening to the whole list too!
Those two albums are both on my list of albums I am going to listen to today. I will just start right now I guess. Haha. I'll post my reactions/review of the albums as I finish them.
Yes, it really is! You should definitely try it, and post your reactions to the separate albums in this thread if you would like.
1. Youth Lagoon The Year of Hibernation
2. The Horrors Skying
3. The War on Drugs Slave Ambient
Are there any tracks on these albums that you would recommend to give a taste of each of them? Or what theses albums sound like in general?
Quote:
Originally posted by RobynYoBank
Modern Vampires of the City is incredible. Obvious Bicycle and Hannah Hunt and even Diane Young immediately stand out, but the entire album is just so textured and well recorded. There's an incredible depth of sound and liveliness to the production that completely separate it from most releases in recent years. Easily one of the two best produced albums of the year (alongside Random Access Memories).
Yes, I love the album. It instantly became my favorite album of the last few years shortly after my first complete listen. I personally found it a lot more eclectic in its production than Random Access Memories.
Youth Lagoon: "17", "Cannons" and "Afternoon"
The Horrors: I prefer Primary Colours (but that's from 2009)
The War on Drugs: the whole album because it's not fair to Adam to cherry-pick songs; download Lost In the Dream as well because that album is like a fantasy
I'm really surprised to see Youth Lagoon omitted from their list considering how much they praised his albums. And The Year of Hibernation is so much better than Wondrous Bughouse.
Are there any tracks on these albums that you would recommend to give a taste of each of them? Or what theses albums sound like in general?
It's really hard for me to cherry-pick songs because these albums are amazing from start to finish but, alas:
The Year of Hibernation - Daydream, Montana, Cannons, 17
These songs are masterpieces. To sum up the album sonically, it's indie/rock//dream/pop and I'd say the title is self explanatory. It's literally the sound of someone hibernating in the sunny, colorful paradise that is the cover. I picture myself laying in a hammock reminiscing my childhood and all the nostalgia of my life in Hawaii when I was a kid. Sometimes it's uplifting but most of the time I'd say it's just reassuring. It's definitely a coming-of-age album for me which is why it's so reassuring to me that there are other young adults out there who still dwell on memories, nostalgia but also their goals for the future. Not that anyone needs that but it's definitely nice to hear it.
Skying - Still Life, Changing The Rain
While everything on the album is outstanding, these two are just out of this world. Probably the two that are most likely to make you want to listen to more. This is more of an indie/rock//dream/pop//shoegaze record that leans more towards indie/rock with psychedelic influences. Very modern psychedelia but I recall quite a few 80s sounds as well. The whole album sounds like a single moment captured in one whole recording. Not in the sense that it sounds like there were no breaks in recording, but in that each song sounds extremely cohesive to the next.
Slave Ambient - The opening track "Best Night" will usher you right into the greatness. If you like that song, you'll love the rest. As far as genre, it's basically the same as Skying but both bands have their own distinctive style. If the albums were water masses Skying would be a glistening, turquoise ocean shore and Slave Ambient would be a gloomy lake on a summer night.
Quote:
Originally posted by M.R.
I'm really surprised to see Youth Lagoon omitted from their list considering how much they praised his albums. And The Year of Hibernation is so much better than Wondrous Bughouse.
I totally agree although Wondrous Bughouse did grow on me.
Youth Lagoon: "17", "Cannons" and "Afternoon"
The Horrors: I prefer Primary Colours (but that's from 2009)
The War on Drugs: the whole album because it's not fair to Adam to cherry-pick songs; download Lost In the Dream as well because that album is like a fantasy
Quote:
Originally posted by Giliap
It's really hard for me to cherry-pick songs because these albums are amazing from start to finish but, alas:
The Year of Hibernation - Daydream, Montana, Cannons, 17
These songs are masterpieces. To sum up the album sonically, it's indie/rock//dream/pop and I'd say the title is self explanatory. It's literally the sound of someone hibernating in the sunny, colorful paradise that is the cover. I picture myself laying in a hammock reminiscing my childhood and all the nostalgia of my life in Hawaii when I was a kid. Sometimes it's uplifting but most of the time I'd say it's just reassuring. It's definitely a coming-of-age album for me which is why it's so reassuring to me that there are other young adults out there who still dwell on memories, nostalgia but also their goals for the future. Not that anyone needs that but it's definitely nice to hear it.
Skying - Still Life, Changing The Rain
While everything on the album is outstanding, these two are just out of this world. Probably the two that are most likely to make you want to listen to more. This is more of an indie/rock//dream/pop//shoegaze record that leans more towards indie/rock with psychedelic influences. Very modern psychedelia but I recall quite a few 80s sounds as well. The whole album sounds like a single moment captured in one whole recording. Not in the sense that it sounds like there were no breaks in recording, but in that each song sounds extremely cohesive to the next.
Slave Ambient - The opening track "Best Night" will usher you right into the greatness. If you like that song, you'll love the rest. As far as genre, it's basically the same as Skying but both bands have their own distinctive style. If the albums were water masses Skying would be a glistening, turquoise ocean shore and Slave Ambient would be a gloomy lake on a summer night.
Thank you guys so much! I just finished my first full play-through of Vampire Weekend's discography, so after I have properly digested it and posted my reactions in this thread, I will move onto these three albums. They all sound right up my alley in terms of genre, so I am really excited to give them a try. Thanks for the recommendations and explanations, they will surely be very helpful.
Thank you guys so much! I just finished my first full play-through of Vampire Weekend's discography, so after I have properly digested it and posted my reactions in this thread, I will move onto these three albums. They all sound right up my alley in terms of genre, so I am really excited to give them a try. Thanks for the recommendations and explanations, they will surely be very helpful.
Nice thread! After reading what you thought of the Sun Kil Moon record, I really want to give it a listen! I only have one album by him and only listened once or twice, but I remember liking it. After I finish up the Young Thug album I picked out from Pitchfork's list.
How are you liking Vampire Weekend on first listen? Personally, Contra is my favorite.
I see you are discussing Modern Vampires of the City. It's such a brilliant album indeed and their best IMO. I mean, "Hannah Hunt", "Step" and "Everlasting Arms" alone >>>>>>>
You should all check Beach House if you haven't. Victoria's voice and their atmospheric sound give me chills. Teen Dream was #6 and Bloom was in the top 60, if I'm not mistaken. Truly deserved, both albums are very solid.
But I'm still mad how low PJ Harvey's "Let England Shake" was ranked. It should have been top 10.
So I just finished listening to Vampire Weekend's first two albums, and I am in love. Like, I have got all three albums in a Spotify playlist and am just clicking one track after another just playing the **** out of every release. It is seriously such a great experience, but anyway, here is what I thought of their first two albums (keep in mind that I listened to 'Modern Vampires of the City' first):
My thoughts on Vampire Weekend's 'Contra':
This entire album sounds a whole lot more pop than any of their other releases, but unlike the mainstream pop music of today, the music has power, style, and flare. The standout tracks for me were "Horchata", "White Sky", "Holiday", "Taxi Cab", "Run", "Giving Up The Gun", "Diplomat's Son", and "I Think Ur A Contra" with my favorite track possibly being the most pop sounding track on the album "White Sky". However, "White Sky" has this special quirkiness and energy to it that makes it beyond infectious. Honestly, after my first full play of 'Contra', I replayed "White Sky" at least 5-6 times in a row. It quickly became an addiction of mine. Overall, this album only has a few mediocre points, which were quickly eclipsed by the brilliance of the standouts. 'Contra' is powerful pop, pop that deserves to be heard, and pop that is so much more interesting and beautiful than what is consumed by the mainstream. It is not Vampire Weekend's strongest album, and might possibly be their weakest, but damn is it really worth listening to.
My thoughts on Vampire Weekend's 'Vampire Weekend':
Usually the first album of any artist's career tends to be their weakest, especially if they are an artist who deeply cares about their art and how it is expressed (which I believe Vampire Weekend are). This was certainly not the case with their debut album. I love that this album sounds a lot more raw and free than their other releases (especially 'Contra'). The standouts for me "Mansard Roof", "Oxford Comma", "A-Punk", "M79", "Campus", "I Stand Corrected" ,"Walcott", and "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance" with my favorite probably being "M79". I love the classical feel of this song, and it has its own independent stylistic feel to it outside of the other tracks. Overall, 'Vampire Weekend' is one of the strongest debut albums I have ever heard, and a great closer for me to their immensely great discography.
I see you are discussing Modern Vampires of the City. It's such a brilliant album indeed and their best IMO. I mean, "Hannah Hunt", "Step" and "Everlasting Arms" alone >>>>>>>
You should all check Beach House if you haven't. Victoria's voice and their atmospheric sound give me chills. Teen Dream was #6 and Bloom was in the top 60, if I'm not mistaken. Truly deserved, both albums are very solid.
Yes, it is definitely their best, and has now become one of my favorite albums of all time. The album is filled with gems. I have only acquired a small taste of Beach House (listened to one of their tracks and liked it), so they are definitely on my list! I'm sure their albums will be great.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
Nice thread! After reading what you thought of the Sun Kil Moon record, I really want to give it a listen! I only have one album by him and only listened once or twice, but I remember liking it. After I finish up the Young Thug album I picked out from Pitchfork's list.
How are you liking Vampire Weekend on first listen? Personally, Contra is my favorite.
You definitely should! It is certainly worth a listen, and there are some really great tracks on there. Get ready to cry though (if you are an emotional person) because damn. Haha.
After listening to all three albums, and if I had to rank them, I would probably say...
Modern Vampires of the City > Contra = Vampire Weekend
Of course 'Modern Vampires' is far ahead of the other two for me. It would just be far too difficult for me to have to choose between 'Contra' and 'Vampire Weekend'. 'Contra' has weaker points, but also higher points than 'Vampire Weekend' which makes them about even. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of their albums though.
I see you are discussing Modern Vampires of the City. It's such a brilliant album indeed and their best IMO. I mean, "Hannah Hunt", "Step" and "Everlasting Arms" alone >>>>>>>
You should all check Beach House if you haven't. Victoria's voice and their atmospheric sound give me chills. Teen Dream was #6 and Bloom was in the top 60, if I'm not mistaken. Truly deserved, both albums are very solid.
But I'm still mad how low PJ Harvey's "Let England Shake" was ranked. It should have been top 10.
Weird question, but when is the best time to listen to Beach House? Morning, Night, Winter, Summer, etc? I have both those albums and they've done nothing for me. They're really gauzy sounding (if that makes sense) and I got nauseous listening to the music. But I've heard a lot of people praise them, I think they might be one of those bands that can work right with the right season and time of day and I don't think I heard them at the right time.
@Inception, I'm glad you liked Vampire Weekend, I have to say though that Contra is my favorite of their three albums, but I haven't listened to Modern Vampires of the City as much as the others. I agree that White Sky is something special on Contra and I love Horchata and Giving Up the Gun (it has a great video) also. I also agree that M79 is probably the best on the debut and I always have a fun time listening to Oxford Comma.
One of the guys from Vampire Weekend has a side project called Discovery and released a pretty fun electronic album in 2009 called LP. It's not as artsy or substantial as Vampire Weekend, but it's a sunny electronic pop album if you're interested.
@Inception, I'm glad you liked Vampire Weekend, I have to say though that Contra is my favorite of their three albums, but I haven't listened to Modern Vampires of the City as much as the others. I agree that White Sky is something special on Contra and I love Horchata and Giving Up the Gun (it has a great video) also. I also agree that M79 is probably the best on the debut and I always have a fun time listening to Oxford Comma.
One of the guys from Vampire Weekend has a side project called Discovery and released a pretty fun electronic album in 2009 called LP. It's not as artsy or substantial as Vampire Weekend, but it's a sunny electronic pop album if you're interested.
Thanks for the recommendation, I just gave it a quick listen, and I would definitely have to agree. It's difficult to enjoy an album like 'LP' after listening to Vampire Weekend's clearly superior discography, but I did find a few good standouts "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", "So Insane", and "Swing Tree" are keepers for me. The real issue that Discovery has is that their songs lack any meaning lyrically. I feel that they could be an amazing side project (instead of just a good one), if they attempted to hone the immense wild energy on 'LP' on a follow-up release. For example, that cover of "I Want You Back" was just absolutely dreadful.
Am I the only one who doesn't find MVOTC as great as everyone says
It does have their best songs like OB, Hannah Hunt, and Hudson. But i still their debut is their best by FAR.
It's just consistently better IMO.
and through the list I found this flawless album
The album is really damn catchy in some areas and can be very beautiful in others and is very quirky and really i would say the best straight up indie rock album of the decade so far. My fav songs are the masterpieces
Am I the only one who doesn't find MVOTC as great as everyone says
It does have their best songs like OB, Hannah Hunt, and Hudson. But i still their debut is their best by FAR.
It's just consistently better IMO.
There is just so much more energy on MVOTC, and the album is a lot more eclectic in my opinion. MVOTC has just great song after great song, there is never a moment of mediocrity in it, which is why I believe it is their best record.
Quote:
Originally posted by FattMatt
and through the list I found this flawless album
The album is really damn catchy in some areas and can be very beautiful in others and is very quirky and really i would say the best straight up indie rock album of the decade so far. My fav songs are the masterpieces
and
the magnum opus of the album
8.5/10 tbh
I def recommend
I just finished listening to it and I thought it was great, but it did have some slow areas. I'm not sure actually why it is rated so highly on this list, but it definitely deserves a spot in the Top 10 or 20. I feel like the production kind of masks the vocal greatness on some of the tracks. Maybe it's just an album that will have to grow on me a bit before I really appreciate its greatness though. The standouts for me were "Helicopter", "Earthquake", "Don't Cry", "Fountain Stars", "Coronado", and "He Would Have Laughed" with the standout being "Helicopter" of course (Pitchfork got it right here). It's definitely one of the strongest records I have heard in this decade though and I can see myself giving it a lot of plays in the future.
