Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest

[bmack86]

Matt and I were discussing this during Matador, and I was telling him and Lee that this album reminds me quite a bit of the third Velvet Underground album, in that it's a subtle shift in tone that creates a subdued, ingratiating album rather than one full of big songs.

[JamesMills]

Matt and I were discussing this during Matador, and I was telling him and Lee that this album reminds me quite a bit of the third Velvet Underground album, in that it's a subtle shift in tone that creates a subdued, ingratiating album rather than one full of big songs.

You should seriously get out more.

[bmack86]

Says the guy posting on a message board at 1:45. You should stop posting stupid shit.

[guedita]

This album is easily my favorite of the year so far. "Desire Lines" is contagious and "He Would Have Laughed" makes me cry.

[JamesMills]

Says the guy posting on a message board at 1:45. You should stop posting stupid shit.

You don't see the ridiculousness of your post? It reads as the musical equivalence of high cult art snobs talking about Mr. Brainwash, it's silly. Just read it again and tell me you wouldn't think twice had it not been authored by yourself.

[bmack86]

Not at all. I think it's an apt comparison whereas your contribution is just an insult. Go ahead, throw out that Elvis Costello quote, because it's still not true. I know other people have agreed with me in this comparison, as I've talked with Lee, Matt and Chris about this and they all thought it was incredibly apt.

Or should I just post, "OMG ALBUM OF THE YEAR LOLZORS! Glowsticks brah!" Some of us enjoy having musical discussions on here, and comparison and analogy are forms of discussion that can elicit some actual thought rather than simple blanket statements about the relative worth of a piece of work. I was sussing out the reasons why the album is affecting me so much; if you're not interested in that, there's a good thread about Daft Punk I'm sure you'd enjoy.

[cormaic]

bmack doesn't really need anyone standing up for him, but jesus christ, dude. He's always got a really great, vibrant way of describing his tastes, a good knowledge of what he likes, and is generally one of the better posters here, and on top of that, you telling him to get out more when his post pretty clearly states that he was having that conversation "out", at matador at 21, and with another person. For fucks sake, there's no reason to shit all over him.

[bmack86]

That was my favorite part. I need to get out when I go to Vegas for concerts.

[JamesMills]

This place is for substantive musical analysis, so I'm obviously not trying to discourage it (I'm all for it, see what I wrote earlier: "Their songs lack crescendos and I feel like their albums are too anticlimactic for my preference"). What you wrote however sounded pretty damn forced and ostentatious and I felt like I'd be doing you an injustice had I not let you know.

I was drunk and went about it in a douchey way though and came off a lot more acerbic than I had intended, so my bad on that. It was intended to be constructive criticism rather than an insult, if you'd ever believe it.

edit: And what Elvis Costello quote are you referring to?

[bmack86]

It's neither forced nor ostentatious in my opinion, and I think that, in terms of this album anyway, what I said may be a way to provide some entry into their sound. It doesn't have the crescendos of the past work, and it's much more of a tame, slowly developing album with songs that, at first glance, can seem minor (See also, Jesus, Pale Blue Eyes, et. al.) The subtlety in the songs develops over multiple listens and the interplay between songs and how they develop instrumental motifs over the course of the record lead it to be an album that needs time and won't have as rabid a following as the past ones, but instead will be that darker, more nuanced record, a la The Velvet Underground, that people truly love.

[JamesMills]

The difference to me is songs like Pale Blue Eyes and Jesus aren't apathetic or nonsensical in the least bit, so the emotions and music may be subtle but they're also demanding and hence did not at all feel minor to me upon the first few listens. I've always given Deerhunter a pass for not having strong lyrics or vocals, but this album goes a bit too far in terms of this decadence when unsupported by it's sleepy instrumental counterpart. I still like it (and have always noticed the VU comparison fwiw), I just wonder if critics and fans alike champion Deerhunter more for their contrary style than their actual music.

What Costello quote were you referring to earlier?

[jazzz]

This album is easily my favorite of the year so far. "Desire Lines" is contagious and "He Would Have Laughed" makes me cry.

Desire Lines has been stuck in my head for over 2 weeks now. Incredible! I really dig the guitar & drums as the song starts going towards the end. Amazing!

[bmack86]

Writing about music is like dancing to architecture - Elvis Costello

[PotVsKtl]

Boring band makes boring album.

[TallGuyCM]

I think bmack's VU comparison could not be more spot-on.

First off, in just the reaction to the record as a whole. People who loved Microcastle seemed to be a little put off when they didn't hear another album full of "Nothing Ever Happened" or "Never Stops"-type songs. Much in the same way that back in the day I'm sure people had a similar reaction when they got "Candy Says" and "Pale Blue Eyes" from the self-titled Velvet Underground album when they were expecting more songs like "Venus In Furs" and "I'm Waiting For the Man."

And the comparison is completely justified even in regards to the ebb and flow of the album. The transition on VU from "Candy Says" to "What Goes On" and later "Jesus" to "Beginning to See the Light" can easily be compared to the same feeling you get when "Sailing" goes right into "Memory Boy" and "Helicopter" fades into "Fountain Stairs."

And the creepiest thing of all is how similar the album covers look.

[betao]

saw Deerhunter/Casino vs Japan last night. Was more excited for CvJ and he did not disappoint - really enjoyed his set. The guitar drones flowed very smoothly into the downtempo beats he dropped. Loved it.

Deerhunter played for a little over an hour, opened with Desire Lines (which sounds better on album). They were very enjoyable, but I'm glad it was only about an hour long. Their music is still a bit too repetitive for me. "Nothing Ever Happened To Me" was great as always.

[PassiveTheory]

I can vouch for Bryan being seen in public and having that exact conversation.

[GeezrRckr]

You don't see the ridiculousness of your post? It reads as the musical equivalence of high cult art snobs talking about Mr. Brainwash, it's silly. Just read it again and tell me you wouldn't think twice had it not been authored by yourself.

this coming from the king of ridiculousness (see sig). it's time to hit the restart button again, PTA. this new alter-ego is fail, just like the other.

as for the album in question...i'm digging it. not yet ready to proclaim it the best of the year, but it's definitely worthy of frothy discussion.

[Mammoth85]

I caught the Matt & Kim set and was looking mildly forward to it, came away highly unimpressed.

[sbessiso]

Just listening to the this for the first time now and I love it. MicroCastle was one of my favorite releases and I dont think I would have ever heard them if it wasnt for the board. I saw them play a small festival in FL last year where they were like the first band on and the show was pretty damn great.

Pretty sure ill be at the Slim's show. Itll definitely be louder

[TallGuyCM]

Deerhunter played for a little over an hour, opened with Desire Lines (which sounds better on album). They were very enjoyable, but I'm glad it was only about an hour long. Their music is still a bit too repetitive for me. "Nothing Ever Happened To Me" was great as always.

They really should be playing for no less than 90 minutes at this point. And yeah, I watched a youtube video of when they opened with Desire Lines at a show a few weeks ago, and it seemed kind of flat. I was hoping it was just the video.

[Darth_Bater]

Have had this album on repeat, definitely one of the better releases this year.

[rage patton]

I really can't get into the first 4 songs on the album. The rest of the album is pretty good... but still doesn't really command much of my attention. Desire Lines and He Would Have Laughed are pretty much the only two songs that make me come back wanting more.

[bmack86]

Your ears are definitely broken if Revival doesn't hook you Josh. You should probably go to a doctor for that.

[send me ctrpllrs]

I can't get enough of Halcyon Digest, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the year. Really excited to see them again in a few weeks. I almost forgot about seeing them at Coachella, I was thinking it had been since ATP since I saw them last, regardless it feels like too long.

[MuseRadio]

When I saw them at the Detroit Bar they played for about 90minutes. Also, when they opened for Spoon earlier this year they played just under 1 hour. So I would hope their headlining set is a bit longer....

[CrimesceneCookie]

How long was CvsJ's set and do you know what he played?
thanks!

[PassiveTheory]

Pretty sure ill be at the Slim's show. Itll definitely be louder

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Go to the GAMH show!

[betao]

How long was CvsJ's set and do you know what he played?
thanks!

he played for 30-40 minutes. i couldn't tell you the names of any of what he played, i only have one double album by him. but it was fucking good and it "sounded" like him.

[bmack86]

This is slowly creeping into my most-anticipated shows of the year. Ridiculous, considering it'll be my 9th Deerhunter show.