PC Pals Forum
General Discussion => The Buzz => Topic started by: sam on March 14, 2010, 21:24
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I've decided I'm going to try and put a few album reviews, short thoughts about music I listen to really, well I thought I'd share...
What I'm listening to: "Story of the Year - The Constant" - http://www.krioma.net/blog/2010/03/what_im_listening_to_story_of.php
The album I'm currently spending alot of time listening to is [Story of the Year] - The Constant. Though I'm not sure any of the tracks live up to their debut single (of 7 years ago), "Until the Day I Die", its still quite nice. I feel that the music here shows a progression of age. There is definitely less screaming, that or maybe I just don't notice it anymore. I quite like "Holding on to you" - resonates well with me at the moment. I guess its a bit "pop-y" and not very pop-punk. That probably describes my tastes quite well at the moment. Though if you are about to forget what Story of the Year are about you are hit with a wake up call in their next track "Won Threw Ate". That really gets me going on the way to work. Overall I'm loving this album and was kinda-what I was expecting and I was pleased. Compared to some of the releases of other bands recently it was nice to have something that hit the nail on the head. "Eye for an Eye" nicely finishes off the album.. and normally by that point I'm ready to work.
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I really like the track in the YouTube video, "I'm Alive", Sam (and the end made me jump!), so I'm definitely going to check this band out.
I think this year has been quite naff for albums so far, and I haven't really been all that impressed with anything I have bought, but looking forward to the new MCR, which should be out soon.
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MCR - indeed it should be.
Story of the Year are def worth more of a listen, their first album is probably my fav.
This year indeed... I was so looking forward to the 30 Seconds to Mars' latest album and was disapointed at first but its grown on me... looking forward to Senses Fail's new album... and I quite enjoyed the Lostprophets latest album.
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I've just listened to a few more clips of SotY, and the vocals are somewhat screamy shouty on some of the tracks, which would put me off a bit, I think.
Talking of MCR, I've just checked their website to see about the album, and it seems the drummer, Bob Bryar has left the band. Shame, he was bloody good!
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oh darn.
I agree some of SofY are a bit shouty - you'll probably enjoy the later album more in that respect but they do have some good tracks.
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Indeed, and I've ordered it from Play. :)
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nice. I worked as a good salesman there!
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You did indeed! ;D
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its a good album.
I should try and write up more short reviews like this... and maybe other could too? Might be a nice way of sharing some likes on here... though something tells me Clive will start posting stuff from the 60s.
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Yes, it's a nice idea. :)
I will be starting with the new Joe Bonamassa album, out next week, which I am sure will be brilliant.
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excellent!
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Fans of Joe Bonamassa will be interested to know that Paul Jones is interviewing JB and playing highlights from his recent Maida Vale concert, tonight (Monday) at 7pm on Radio 2 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rdt1n). (https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv300%2FMothballs%2FSmileys%2Fgitpunk.gif&hash=69488ba920b437af5568486cb58b863256779996)
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Thanks, Rod, we know where Simon will be then... ;)
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And the second half of the concert is being broadcast next Saturday evening. Anyone who is into great blues / rock guitar should check him out. :)
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I thought your antennae would be twitching. :)
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So will my PVR be. ;)
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;D
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I have to say, Sam, this album is spot on! I'm up to track 6, and they've all been excellent so far. :thumbs:
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excellent! glad you are enjoying it.
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so did you enjoy the rest of the album ?
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Yeah! It was over surprisingly quickly, but I'll certainly be giving it more listens, which is more than I can say for many albums. :thumb:
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Excellent. Yeah, tis quite a short album - does the commute to work nicely though.
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The last track is satisfyingly frantic! I think it's probably the best album of that genre, since the last Green Day.
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I'd agree with that. I quite like it. Not a bad ending - but makes you want more.
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Indeed, but if their previous albums are all screamy, I might be put off.
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hmmm... they aren't too screamy but then again I tend to listen to that. I'll take another listen later. Of course I could just recommend some of their other better tracks instead of the album, you know the way music is supposed to be going... no one having albums anymore. :ack:
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I still like albums. I'd go back to vinyl if I could. Much warmer sound, and those wonderful gatefold sleeves made you feel like you'd actually bought something worth having. :)
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lol. I see your point. Though the warmer sound, is that just down to the equalisation made by the sound kit?
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Not really sure, Sam. I've never had a proper expensive turntable, but audiophiles will tell you that they sound better than CDs any day.
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hmmm. I wonder at what bitrate the digital wins.
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We need an audiophile to tell us! ;)
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audiophiles will tell you that they sound better than CDs any day.
They can obviously live with the wow & flutter, snap, crackle and pop, and the low dynamic range and channel separation.
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I have certain tracks which I have had on vinyl, and the CD versions never sound the same. Of course, some music does sound better, but some CDs just sound flat to me.
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Oh, they do. My point is that most vinyl was not well engineered, from eccentric centre holes to warped platters, producing wow and flutter. An LP degrades on every playing, and the higher the crescendos, the worse the 'planing' effect of the stylus. Dynamic range was always limited by the medium, so, for example, Verdi's Requiem was always highly compressed to make it 'fit' the vinyl. Finally, stereo separation, cross-talk, was really very low, again due to the mechanics of the system.
Some music was not hugely affected by the limitation, and some labels, eg Sheffield Labs, took a lot more care with their pressings. Overall, though, CD is technically superior - it just sounds different.
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Whenever I listen to vinyl I end up wishing that someone in my family had digitised it. I can't be bothered with all that effort too :-) Benefits of mp3s... no need to do anything just hit play.
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Hi bitrate MP3s are fine. Anything under 192 is s**t.
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I'd agree to that. My main reason I like mp3s is just the lack of having todo anything. When I buy CDs first thing I do. In computer digitise. I hardly ever listen to the CD after that, though the other half likes her CD player.
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It's one way to preserve your CDs from damage, and, of course, it's very portable.
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the later wins. At home (not here) I dock my Ipod in the front room, job done.
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Don't talk to me about iPods! ;D
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I'm with Sam on that. I can tell the difference between an MP3 and a CD, but for most music it's not intrusive. I drop my iPod in a Bose dock, select a playlist and don't have to spend the evening bobbing up and down at dinner parties.
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I agree, it's handy for that. Which dock do you use, Rik, and will it accept anything other than an iPod?
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The portable Bose:
http://www.bose.co.uk/GB/en/home-entertainment/digital-music-solutions/sounddock-systems/sounddock-portable/index.jsp
There is an analogue input for other players. It produces a surprisingly big sound for such a small unit, and has reasonably good bass. It charges the iPod (but not any other device) and can be easily be taken outside or into another room to run from battery.
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Thanks. I wonder how much it would be without the Bose badge? :)
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A lot less. It is good, but there's no denying it is expensive too. The non-battery version is a fair bit cheaper, btw.
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I got a cheap one (actually a combo alarm clock too) from Asda a few years back and how that's pretty good. Not perfect sound, but for £20 it wasn't bad at all. It also has radio and minijack input... so I was quite happy. If I want proper sound I plug my big system into my computer.
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If I want big sound, I play a CD on my big amp and big speakers. Can't be arsed plugging it into the PC.
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lol. I dont have anything like that... might once I move into a permanent place. Here I just have my laptop... :-\
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I couldn't live without a decent hifi, Sam. :)
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I didn't think you had a Meridian set up though, Simon. :o: ;D
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:shuddup:
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;D
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I couldn't live without a decent hifi, Sam. :)
Ipod + decent headphones. Job done.
Actually I listen to a lot of internet radio these days.
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That's something I've never investigated.
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what ipods?
or Internet radio? (for me that normally ends up being 5live at the moment)
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Internet Radio. Just don't have time to sit and listen.
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It doesn't have to be through your computer, Simon.
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:stars:
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You can buy portable internet radios that work wirelessly direct from the router.
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Only while you're at home, though. :)
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True, but it does free you from the computer (and would work at hotspots).
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I haven't found a hotspot that works locally yet, but there's supposed to be one at the KFC. Guess I could spend all day listening to the radio and eating fried chicken.
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There are worse things to do. Not many of them mind you. ;D
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Now, if it was DR fried chicken, I could live with it. :)
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Me too. :)
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how come every long thread always comes back to food with you guys... on that note time for me to go get a pizza :-D
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It's Rik's fault! ;D
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yeah, yeah.
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o:)
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It is, Sam, I indoctrinated Simon. ;D
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:bawl:
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Yes, it's a nice idea. :)
I will be starting with the new Joe Bonamassa album, out next week, which I am sure will be brilliant.
have to admit that I hadnt really heard of him until last week when my son told me to listen to some stuff so he gave me 'The Ballad of John Henry'
have to say I am impressed so far.watched a few you tube clips too :thumbs: when reading up about him I see he was influenced by the great british guitarists too Clapton,Page, Kossoff,Beck..... :)
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Nothing but the best, Baz. :thumbs:
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His Black Rock album is superb, and gets better with each listen. I'll post a review over the weekend. :)