Real Estate - Days vs. Four Tet - There is Love in You
VS.
I was impressed with y'all last round. I sucked it up but you all came through. I liked every comment, but especially Bruce's term "guitar diarrhea". So, let's say votes due for this one by Tues. morning.
I haven't actually decided who I'm voting for here although I do love me some Four Tet. But since my last comment so was so lacking, I thought I'd write a short defense of Low even though they lost. I think there's a temptation for a lot of us to distance ourselves from music we were passionate about at an earlier period in our lives--a kind of "look how much I've matured; I'm not that moody kid from high school/college anymore" kind of attitude, and so we turn our backs on the stuff we loved. I'm speaking mostly for myself here. And by all rights, I probably should have voted for the Congos since that's more the kind of thing I'd be digging these days (I bet Joe Strummer liked them, and that counts for a lot in my books). Also, deep down, I probably do believe voting for the Congos belies a more mature musical taste. But let me say this about Low: These guys have done something really hard to do--they've been around for about twenty years and are still putting out really quality records. Sure, not everything they do is absolutely amazing, but they're more consistent than a lot of what's out there. I mean as much as I liked listening to Icona Pop, I can't imagine them lasting more than a few years (prove me wrong, children!). Low have also widened their sound without simply following trends. They can still write songs as slow and intense as in the olden days (Nothing but Heart), but they can also churn out great pop songs (Try to Sleep) or songs that almost sound Neil Youngesque (Witches). Speaking of which, I think the main guy has really worked hard at developing his guitar playing and song-writing, which is one reason they still seem interesting. In fact, I think it's interesting that people like Robert Plant and Mavis Staples are choosing to cover Low--cause that's kind of strange when you think about it, but I think it says something about the quality of their tunes. So, all that to say I think C'mon is a pretty great record, and while I'm not really upset it lost to the Congos, I do think it deserves more than just a quick dismissal. Okay, that's about as feisty as I get these days (I think). Peace out hippies.
Since I chose Real Estate, I'm voting Real Estate. For some time the various internets were pushing me toward Real Estate for some algorithmic reason. And I avoided listening to them at all, since I work in Real Estate, and felt it would be too depressing. Anyway, I ended up hearing them at some point, and ended up liking it. So there you go, kids, don't judge a book by your profession.
Four Tet I can't say anything about, because I couldn't find a place to listen to it. I did do a search and saw something about electronica... wow, am I glad I don't work in computers.
I like Fourtet. I think this is a really good Fourtet album. I wish I could look over his shoulder sometime while he’s putting a track together.
Real Estate kind of bugs me. They bug me a bit less after listening a little longer. Perhaps it bugs me more knowing they’ve gotten rave reviews in a lot of places—and when I checked them out, I thought, “Huh, how could anyone get so excited about this?” To quote Mr. Z. this album fits my definition of the “statistical median of indie rock.” Seems like they all got together out of their mutual love of Deerhunter and produced a watered down version with all the edges smoothed out and nary a dynamic modulation to be heard.
I vote for Fourtet because I liked them back when I was a youngster too.
I vote Four Tet because I picked it, and I like it. Four Tet has been pretty consistently impressive and engaging over the years, although sometimes "they" almost get a little too complicated for me ears...It's like watching a confusing foreign film with subtitles with your fingers. You get the feeling that it's good, but you're kind of disoriented and suspicious that you are consuming it with the wrong sense organ. On this album, however, Four Tet strips it down nicely...I find the vibe of the whole album warm, meditative, even beautiful at times, never letting go of the beat entirely, mindlessly slipping into tedium, or becoming unnecessarily inaccessible.
I listened to Real Estate for the first time this round. Decent stuff. Some nice Johnny Marr-y guitars in there. But a little on the bland side, at least on first listen. Could use some more enaging vocals if you ask me. But who am I to ask? I love the electronic instrumental shit.
Never heard of any of these people before. I think I'll go with Four Tet as well, though I'm not "happy" about "it."
Overall, I definitely like Real Estate type music more than Four Tet type music. Post-rock electronic stuff always seems more fun to play than listen to. In this particular case, I think Four Tet is just more interesting. Not that I want to listen to it again.
Not sure if this belies an immature musical taste on my part, but I'm going to risk the wrath of Zwartitude. I prefer Four Tet, even if I prefer Real Estate's name.
So, I was going to vote for Real Estate last night because sure I can see that they're not super dynamic, but I liked their sort of easy-listening style, and I thought the melodies were really good. I'm glad I got introduced to this. So, you're all lucky because I was going to break the pathetic 1 vs 1 tie last night cause votes were due by TUESDAY morning not by TODAY morning, but I didn't cause blah blah baby blah blah tired blah blah. So Four Tet win, which is actually fine by me because I think this is a great album, and I like it a lot.
VS. 
I haven't actually decided who I'm voting for here although I do love me some Four Tet. But since my last comment so was so lacking, I thought I'd write a short defense of Low even though they lost. I think there's a temptation for a lot of us to distance ourselves from music we were passionate about at an earlier period in our lives--a kind of "look how much I've matured; I'm not that moody kid from high school/college anymore" kind of attitude, and so we turn our backs on the stuff we loved. I'm speaking mostly for myself here. And by all rights, I probably should have voted for the Congos since that's more the kind of thing I'd be digging these days (I bet Joe Strummer liked them, and that counts for a lot in my books). Also, deep down, I probably do believe voting for the Congos belies a more mature musical taste. But let me say this about Low: These guys have done something really hard to do--they've been around for about twenty years and are still putting out really quality records. Sure, not everything they do is absolutely amazing, but they're more consistent than a lot of what's out there. I mean as much as I liked listening to Icona Pop, I can't imagine them lasting more than a few years (prove me wrong, children!). Low have also widened their sound without simply following trends. They can still write songs as slow and intense as in the olden days (Nothing but Heart), but they can also churn out great pop songs (Try to Sleep) or songs that almost sound Neil Youngesque (Witches). Speaking of which, I think the main guy has really worked hard at developing his guitar playing and song-writing, which is one reason they still seem interesting. In fact, I think it's interesting that people like Robert Plant and Mavis Staples are choosing to cover Low--cause that's kind of strange when you think about it, but I think it says something about the quality of their tunes. So, all that to say I think C'mon is a pretty great record, and while I'm not really upset it lost to the Congos, I do think it deserves more than just a quick dismissal. Okay, that's about as feisty as I get these days (I think). Peace out hippies.
ReplyDeleteI used to use paragraphs but Joe LG has really influenced my writing style.
DeleteWhat you talking about Zwart!ude?!? I use paragraphs!!
DeleteSince I chose Real Estate, I'm voting Real Estate. For some time the various internets were pushing me toward Real Estate for some algorithmic reason. And I avoided listening to them at all, since I work in Real Estate, and felt it would be too depressing. Anyway, I ended up hearing them at some point, and ended up liking it. So there you go, kids, don't judge a book by your profession.
ReplyDeleteFour Tet I can't say anything about, because I couldn't find a place to listen to it. I did do a search and saw something about electronica... wow, am I glad I don't work in computers.
I like Fourtet. I think this is a really good Fourtet album. I wish I could look over his shoulder sometime while he’s putting a track together.
ReplyDeleteReal Estate kind of bugs me. They bug me a bit less after listening a little longer. Perhaps it bugs me more knowing they’ve gotten rave reviews in a lot of places—and when I checked them out, I thought, “Huh, how could anyone get so excited about this?” To quote Mr. Z. this album fits my definition of the “statistical median of indie rock.” Seems like they all got together out of their mutual love of Deerhunter and produced a watered down version with all the edges smoothed out and nary a dynamic modulation to be heard.
I vote for Fourtet because I liked them back when I was a youngster too.
......cos I haven't matured and if Lungfish was still putting out records I'd be voting for that junk until Musical Death Match 2073.
DeleteI vote Four Tet because I picked it, and I like it. Four Tet has been pretty consistently impressive and engaging over the years, although sometimes "they" almost get a little too complicated for me ears...It's like watching a confusing foreign film with subtitles with your fingers. You get the feeling that it's good, but you're kind of disoriented and suspicious that you are consuming it with the wrong sense organ. On this album, however, Four Tet strips it down nicely...I find the vibe of the whole album warm, meditative, even beautiful at times, never letting go of the beat entirely, mindlessly slipping into tedium, or becoming unnecessarily inaccessible.
ReplyDeleteI listened to Real Estate for the first time this round. Decent stuff. Some nice Johnny Marr-y guitars in there. But a little on the bland side, at least on first listen. Could use some more enaging vocals if you ask me. But who am I to ask? I love the electronic instrumental shit.
Four Tet Four me.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of any of these people before. I think I'll go with Four Tet as well, though I'm not "happy" about "it."
ReplyDeleteOverall, I definitely like Real Estate type music more than Four Tet type music. Post-rock electronic stuff always seems more fun to play than listen to. In this particular case, I think Four Tet is just more interesting. Not that I want to listen to it again.
Not sure if this belies an immature musical taste on my part, but I'm going to risk the wrath of Zwartitude. I prefer Four Tet, even if I prefer Real Estate's name.
ReplyDeleteSo, I was going to vote for Real Estate last night because sure I can see that they're not super dynamic, but I liked their sort of easy-listening style, and I thought the melodies were really good. I'm glad I got introduced to this. So, you're all lucky because I was going to break the pathetic 1 vs 1 tie last night cause votes were due by TUESDAY morning not by TODAY morning, but I didn't cause blah blah baby blah blah tired blah blah. So Four Tet win, which is actually fine by me because I think this is a great album, and I like it a lot.
ReplyDeleteI vote Four Tet!
ReplyDelete