|   Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire | Ms. Nomer
Aug 22, 2001 1:46 PM | | I'm seriously diggin' "Case in Point" from dbi's "Half Gone" comp. So, is all of "The Swimming Hour" comparable to "Case in Point", or is this the stand-out track on this album? I just hate when I buy an album on the strength of one track, and end up only liking that one track. Is it safe? |
| Good luck :-) | dbi
Aug 22, 2001 2:51 PM | | I don't think you're gonna get too many responses on that one, Pat. Stone has it but I don't know of anyone else. I think the whole album is very good and that song was one of my early favorites so I put it on the comp but there's at least five songs that I think are just as good or better. It is easily one of the best albums I have heard this year and will almost surely be in my top ten. Andrew Bird used to be with the Squirrel Nut Zippers (and I guess still tours with them) so brings some of that swing sound along with great song writing and clever lyrics. I've read that before this album he went out and bought a bunch of albums to find out what was happening in modern pop and one that really stuck was the Flaming Lips <i>Soft Bulletin</i> which does show with the production elements that span the decades. <a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/b/bird_andrew/swimming-hour.shtml">Pitchfork</a> gave it a 9.0 and I think it has been very favorably reviewed by others including Magnet which proclaimed "<i>The Swimming Hour</i> isn't just great, but jaw-droppingly spectacular."
I'd say that it's a pretty safe purchase based on your liking the Case In Point song.
Dave |
| BTW, here's the Soft Bulletin story | dbi
Aug 22, 2001 3:39 PM | | I couldn't remember where I had read it so just did a quick search with Andrew Bird and Flaming Lips and it came right up. Pretty nice review too.
http://www.chicagogigs.com/reviews/swimminghour.htm |
| I'd say it's "safe"... | Stone
Aug 22, 2001 4:24 PM | | Many of the tracks are very strong in my opinion, but they do vary in style somewhat from one to the next. However, I really think it works. And don't worry, it's not SO varied that it's like a different band from one track to the next, there is just a wide variety of influences and styles - but to me it is very charming and enjoyable. Just don't expect 12 other tracks like "Case In Point". The article dbi posted above describes it well.
Stone
NP: Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire "11:11" |
| Excellent. I have the rest of the week off so I'll try to... | Ms. Nomer
Aug 22, 2001 7:19 PM | | ...find it on Thursday. If not, I'll get it somewhere on-line. Surely I'll see something else I've been meaning to pick up (the new Perry Farrell album, for instance). Thanks for the feedback. BTW, that "Is it safe" line was a "Marathon Man" reference. Ms. Nomer - always quick to point out the obvious ;-) |
| Perry Farrell | Stone
Aug 22, 2001 7:32 PM | | I have this one too. I don't know if you've heard anything off it or about it, but don't expect Jane's or Porno for Pyros. I do like it (although I don't think it's spectacular), but it's different from anything he's done before. It's kinda like Jane's type vocals set to a big dance beat (for many of the songs at least) using piano and some horns, with a little guitar thrown in here and there. Dave Navarro plays guitar on at least one song, but it's not a guitar heavy album.
Stone
NP: The Jayhawks - Sound Of Lies |
| Thanks for the tip. | Ms. Nomer
Aug 22, 2001 7:50 PM | | Maybe I'll pass...for now. Have you listened to Navarro's "Trust No One" album yet? Except for the simplistic lyrics, I like it WAY more than I thought I would. Definitely a 'grower'...think Deconstruction with a better voice. Hmmm...I'll figure out a back-up purchase before I hit the stores. |
| It's a real hard sell, | Snowbunny
Aug 22, 2001 8:23 PM | | my conceptual hell!
And you know its all just par for the course,
but you blame it on some non existent force!
"Case in Point" has got to be the best song I've ever received on a comp. I literally can not sit still when that song comes on!!!
So based on your incredibly good taste, Ms. Nomer, I have to ask you to send me your Party Mix 1 to 3. Email me and we'll discuss what I can do for you in return.
Let me know what you think of Bowl Of Fire. Its at the top of my want list!
Snowbunny |
| You've got mail! (nt) | Ms. Nomer
Aug 23, 2001 12:05 PM | | |
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