So far so good. Kinda like a sequel to 69 love songs. There is a lot of referencing to that album on the packaging and in the same type faces used.
But alas there are only 14 songs here. (I feel like that guy in that woody allen movie now that I wrote that. the guys who is buying art from Max Von Sydow - "I got a lot of wall space." )
Anyway, it's good ol' classic stuff with some stuff that hasn't landed for me yet but it probably will later. I only listened once and it takes me some time to emotionally attach to music, at least I can't force it. I mean, hey, straight male here.
SPOILERS --
all the song titles begin with the letter "i" and there are NO synth instruments on it. I wish I had a good stereo instead of this just OK computer speakers. It sounds quite beautiful. And now that I realize there are no synths in it, it is musically (but Mag Fields is ALWAYS musically cool) really great. No synth but they are using synth "cliches" with acoustic instruments - synthy beats, synthy piano chords, and some wooshing sounds.
END SPOILERS
Currently "I Don't Believe You" is the fav but that is an easy one. Right now though "I Wish I Had An Evil Twin" is one to chew before swallowing.
In summation, this one is going to stay in rotation for a while.
But alas there are only 14 songs here. (I feel like that guy in that woody allen movie now that I wrote that. the guys who is buying art from Max Von Sydow - "I got a lot of wall space." )
Anyway, it's good ol' classic stuff with some stuff that hasn't landed for me yet but it probably will later. I only listened once and it takes me some time to emotionally attach to music, at least I can't force it. I mean, hey, straight male here.
SPOILERS --
all the song titles begin with the letter "i" and there are NO synth instruments on it. I wish I had a good stereo instead of this just OK computer speakers. It sounds quite beautiful. And now that I realize there are no synths in it, it is musically (but Mag Fields is ALWAYS musically cool) really great. No synth but they are using synth "cliches" with acoustic instruments - synthy beats, synthy piano chords, and some wooshing sounds.
END SPOILERS
Currently "I Don't Believe You" is the fav but that is an easy one. Right now though "I Wish I Had An Evil Twin" is one to chew before swallowing.
In summation, this one is going to stay in rotation for a while.
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Los Angeles
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Unsu...
Re: i
Tue, May 11, 2004 - 5:25 PMRight now "Infinitely Late at Night" is sticking with me the most. Although I have this insane urge to hear Tom Waits cover it. -
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Re: i
Thu, May 13, 2004 - 10:18 AMhave you ever hear Francoise Hardy's cover of Suzanne?
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Re: i
Tue, May 11, 2004 - 6:45 PMThe most traditional Stephin Merritt album since "Get Lost"--at least in that "i" returns to the lusher production of the early Mag Fields' LPs, Stephin sings all the songs, and unlike "Eternal Youth" or "Hyacinths & Thistles" I can take this album seriously.
Immediate faves: I Don't Believe You
I Don't Really Love You Anymore
I Wish I Had An Evil Twin
It's Only Time (made me cry *sniff*)
Not a masterpiece, but highly recommended. -
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Re: i
Thu, May 13, 2004 - 10:28 AMYou don't like Hyacinths and Thistles? (I know that isn't what you said) but I am curious to know why you can't take that one seriously. I love that album with the great music and different voices (Dominique A!!)
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Re: i
Thu, May 13, 2004 - 12:43 PMDon't get me wrong, I really like "Hyacinths & Thistles"! But it definitely strikes me more as a collection of songs than an *album*, even more than the first 6ths record ("Wasps' Nests", which is the best Merritt record besides "69 Love Songs" and probably rests in my top 20 ever list).
I fell in love with the Magnetic Fields via "Charm of the Highway Strip" which is very much a concept record, and listening to all of the pre-"69" Magnetic Fields albums again, they are all definitely more cohesive than "69 Love Songs" or either 6ths album. I guess that's one reason I particularly take to "i", aside from the mostly excellent songwriting.
And "Eternal Youth"? Love it even more than "Hyacinths," but c'mon it's kinda silly. Hehe. :)
But yeah, Dominique A is *totally* lovely, same goes for Katherine Whalen, Momus, Neil Hannon, etc... -
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Re: i
Thu, May 13, 2004 - 4:30 PMgotcha, though, having listened to H & T ( i even find it hard to write) a billion times i find it pretty cohesive.
have you listened to any of Dominique As early albums? they are really great. also recommended is Yann Tiersen's latest (a year old) C'etait ici which has Dominique and Neil Hannon (I love Divine Comedy, very Gainsbourgy). Tiersen puts the core back in accordion, if it was ever there to begin with. -
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Re: i
Thu, May 13, 2004 - 5:11 PMNo actually, Dominique A was one of a couple singers on the LP that I wasn't aware of.
The Yann Tiersen with him and Neil Hannon (big DC fan too) sounds great, I'll try it out. I've only heard the Amelie soundtrack and the Third Eye Foundation remix of "La Dispute" from Tiersen and I really enjoy both. Thanks for the tip. :)
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Re: i
Wed, May 12, 2004 - 8:28 AMI'm really enjoying the pop stylings and slick melodies of 'I thought you were my boyfriend'.
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Re: i
Wed, May 12, 2004 - 8:23 PMon the "i wish i had an evil twin" subject, i love this song, because it has expressed a thought i think i've had my entire life, but had never yet been articulated. I also really like the way the cello carries the beat and generally smile whenever a harpsichord enters the picture.
my big reservation about the album is the track order. i mean, it just slows down dramatically for the last four tracks, and listening to them in a row is sort of a drag.
non sequitur - my tiny claim to Stephen Merritt fame is that we have slept in the same room, albeit at different times. In the boxed 69LS, one of the liner pictures shows them crashing in a lounge by a fireplace. That room is in the main building of the college I went to, and I spent many nights in that very room. yay. -
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Re: i
Thu, May 20, 2004 - 6:19 PMI'm not 100% convinced by "i". Don;t get me wrong, I love their oldest stuff-you don't have to tell me I'm no good, this I know; there's no point pointing pistols at me now, I'll just go--but this album, besides the ULTRA catchy "I don't believe you" (which also sums up my entire romantic history), hasn't worked its way in yet. we'll see! -
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Re: i
Fri, May 21, 2004 - 1:02 PMI'm kinda "eh" on I. I bought The Dresden Dolls at the same time and that one is getting much more attention.
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