I liked Swearin' better the second time I listened to it, but I've listened to Cold Specks three or four times and continued to like it more, so I'm going with Cold Specks. Maybe I should listen to Swearin' the same amount of time to be fair, but I don't think it will make a difference. Cold Specks is just more interesting to me.
I'm voting Cold Specks. I like the Swearin' quite a bit although I think their self-titled is better. Also, for a band called Swearin', they don't having nearly enough swearing. I had Cold Specks on my list for a number of reasons. As Brooke pointed out, her voice is pretty amazing. The songs themselves are in some ways straightforward but really well written and very nicely arranged--not so busy as to take away from the writing and her voice but just interesting enough to keep you listening carefully. Also, I'm kind of facinated with her personal story, which doesn't really have anything to do with the music, but there you go. Oh, and she's Canadian.
Cold Specks has some outstanding and astounding instrumentation...but the vocals are sort of one note. At least to me. But I do like it, even if it's just as background.
Swearin' engages me on all kinds of levels. I like the grit of the guitar progressions. I think the harmonies are absolutely gut-wrenching. Especially on "Crashing"
Going from the catchiness of "Crashing" into the mud and sludge of "Subterranean" is a great move...because the hints at cute and catchy that "Crashing" gives made me nervous that again, I'd be listening to a one note vocal band.
It does seem like the vocals get buried as the album progresses...but their willingness to go from staccato/disjointed rhythms to quick 4/4 tunes makes my heart jump...or as brooke says...my blood boil in the best ways.
So, perhaps it's obvious from the length of my reflection on Swearin' but I'd rather live in a dump than experience the expulsion...no matter how graceful.
Lots of good reasoning here on the merits of both albums, so I won't sully the playground with any of my simpleton views on music. Though, I do feel it is important that all of you know that I have the same bathroom tile as Swearin' does. Please make a mental note of it.
Both albums were great, but Specks just seemed to pull me a bit farther down the road.
I'm going to go Cold Specks also. I'm a little suspicious that it will be squatting in a forgotten corner of my music library in about 2 years, never to be played again . . . but that's better than Swearin', where even after about 8 listens nothing stuck to me at all.
The album is like 12 minutes long. I had an hour and a half to listen to it (while doing other things, granted).
I should say: It's not that I didn't LIKE it. But . . . yeah, nothing STUCK to me. I didn't find a first favorite track; I didn't catch many lyrics; etc.
My vote goes to Cold Specks. I had a tough time comparing these two albums, but this time, I'm choosing polish over grit, or choosing the one that feels more like a unified project anyway. Still, I'm grateful for the introduction to Swearin'--I dig them.
I think I'll vote for Cold Specks. But I really want to vote for Swearin', except that I can't because I am not really that into "Dump." I too like their self-titled one better (the one available on Spotify). Oh well.
Once I got into Jeff Zwart’s car just after he got married and he was listening to Norah Jones and everyone was all “oooohh Jeff’s listening to Norah Jones! You like Norah Jones?” and Jeff says something like “I don’t know.” I learned that when one gets married one listens to music that they don’t care about and that seemed like a bad idea so I didn’t get married. At least not for about 10 more years. But when I did get married a weird bluegrass band played that I wasn’t sure if I liked or not, and they were definitely hard to dance to and there was no booze so that was lame. Anyway, when I listened to Cold Specks it seemed like music that you’re supposed to like when you grow up but that I don’t like for some reason. She has a voice that reminds me of other voices that I’m not fond of. Plus the rising tide of nationalism displayed in Andrew’s choices is getting hard for me to stomach. Swearin’ are the jam. Super straight forward but with enough interesting riffs, progressions and catchy melodies to blow my skirt up. With lines like “I hope you like Kenosha so much you stay there,” how can you go wrong? Plus no one makes me want to play the airdrums like ole JeffBolt (to be said with both arms aloft ala “SteveHolt!).” All these qualities come through a bit cleaner in the aforementioned full-length but my baby girl likes this ep better so that’s alright too. Swearin’!! I say!
Just listened to the full-length Swearin' album and am confident that it would have won if it was in the match... at least it would have had my vote. Unless I was feeling particularly grown up and coming off a Nora Jones high (yeah, I speldt her name wrong so no one is on to me).
vs.
Al Spx voice in Cold Specks is daunting. Really nice. And the piano works well I thought.
ReplyDeleteBut Swearin' boils my blood in the best ways.
I vote WHAT A DUMP!
I liked Swearin' better the second time I listened to it, but I've listened to Cold Specks three or four times and continued to like it more, so I'm going with Cold Specks. Maybe I should listen to Swearin' the same amount of time to be fair, but I don't think it will make a difference. Cold Specks is just more interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting Cold Specks. I like the Swearin' quite a bit although I think their self-titled is better. Also, for a band called Swearin', they don't having nearly enough swearing.
ReplyDeleteI had Cold Specks on my list for a number of reasons. As Brooke pointed out, her voice is pretty amazing. The songs themselves are in some ways straightforward but really well written and very nicely arranged--not so busy as to take away from the writing and her voice but just interesting enough to keep you listening carefully. Also, I'm kind of facinated with her personal story, which doesn't really have anything to do with the music, but there you go. Oh, and she's Canadian.
Cold Specks has some outstanding and astounding instrumentation...but the vocals are sort of one note. At least to me. But I do like it, even if it's just as background.
ReplyDeleteSwearin' engages me on all kinds of levels. I like the grit of the guitar progressions. I think the harmonies are absolutely gut-wrenching. Especially on "Crashing"
Going from the catchiness of "Crashing" into the mud and sludge of "Subterranean" is a great move...because the hints at cute and catchy that "Crashing" gives made me nervous that again, I'd be listening to a one note vocal band.
It does seem like the vocals get buried as the album progresses...but their willingness to go from staccato/disjointed rhythms to quick 4/4 tunes makes my heart jump...or as brooke says...my blood boil in the best ways.
So, perhaps it's obvious from the length of my reflection on Swearin' but I'd rather live in a dump than experience the expulsion...no matter how graceful.
Lots of good reasoning here on the merits of both albums, so I won't sully the playground with any of my simpleton views on music. Though, I do feel it is important that all of you know that I have the same bathroom tile as Swearin' does. Please make a mental note of it.
ReplyDeleteBoth albums were great, but Specks just seemed to pull me a bit farther down the road.
I'm going to go Cold Specks also. I'm a little suspicious that it will be squatting in a forgotten corner of my music library in about 2 years, never to be played again . . . but that's better than Swearin', where even after about 8 listens nothing stuck to me at all.
ReplyDelete8 listens to a record that you didn't like at all? Though I may question your musical taste I cannot question your commitment to the death match.
DeleteThe album is like 12 minutes long. I had an hour and a half to listen to it (while doing other things, granted).
DeleteI should say: It's not that I didn't LIKE it. But . . . yeah, nothing STUCK to me. I didn't find a first favorite track; I didn't catch many lyrics; etc.
My vote goes to Cold Specks. I had a tough time comparing these two albums, but this time, I'm choosing polish over grit, or choosing the one that feels more like a unified project anyway. Still, I'm grateful for the introduction to Swearin'--I dig them.
ReplyDeletePlus their lanky drummer stayed in your house once....or maybe he slept in his van because he's like that.
DeleteI think I'll vote for Cold Specks. But I really want to vote for Swearin', except that I can't because I am not really that into "Dump." I too like their self-titled one better (the one available on Spotify). Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna sit this one out.
ReplyDeleteIs it because Swearin' stole your autobiography title? #whatadump #sorryjeff
DeleteOnce I got into Jeff Zwart’s car just after he got married and he was listening to Norah Jones and everyone was all “oooohh Jeff’s listening to Norah Jones! You like Norah Jones?” and Jeff says something like “I don’t know.” I learned that when one gets married one listens to music that they don’t care about and that seemed like a bad idea so I didn’t get married. At least not for about 10 more years. But when I did get married a weird bluegrass band played that I wasn’t sure if I liked or not, and they were definitely hard to dance to and there was no booze so that was lame. Anyway, when I listened to Cold Specks it seemed like music that you’re supposed to like when you grow up but that I don’t like for some reason. She has a voice that reminds me of other voices that I’m not fond of. Plus the rising tide of nationalism displayed in Andrew’s choices is getting hard for me to stomach.
ReplyDeleteSwearin’ are the jam. Super straight forward but with enough interesting riffs, progressions and catchy melodies to blow my skirt up. With lines like “I hope you like Kenosha so much you stay there,” how can you go wrong? Plus no one makes me want to play the airdrums like ole JeffBolt (to be said with both arms aloft ala “SteveHolt!).” All these qualities come through a bit cleaner in the aforementioned full-length but my baby girl likes this ep better so that’s alright too.
Swearin’!! I say!
Swearin' I say, indeed. A rousing defense Joe but Cold Specks it is.
ReplyDeleteJust listened to the full-length Swearin' album and am confident that it would have won if it was in the match... at least it would have had my vote. Unless I was feeling particularly grown up and coming off a Nora Jones high (yeah, I speldt her name wrong so no one is on to me).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, full length Swearin' works