Patrick Finn
write a post in the style of treeship from ilxor.com Hey folks, it's Treeship here, your friendly neighborhood music enthusiast and self-proclaimed expert on all things indie. Today, I want to talk about a band that's been on my radar for a while now: Snail Mail.
If you're not familiar with Snail Mail, they're a Baltimore-based indie rock band fronted by singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan. Their music has been described as "nostalgic, yet forward-thinking" and "raw, emotional, and confessional."
I first discovered Snail Mail when they released their debut album, "Lush," in 2018. From the opening track, "Pristine," I was hooked. Jordan's vocals are both powerful and vulnerable, and her lyrics are incredibly relatable. Whether she's singing about heartbreak, self-doubt, or the struggles of growing up, Jordan's words cut straight to the bone.
But what really sets Snail Mail apart, in my opinion, is their musicianship. Jordan's guitar playing is nothing short of impressive, and the rest of the band - bassist Alex Bass and drummer Ray Brown - provide a solid foundation for her to build on. Their music is both intricate and accessible, and it's easy to get lost in the layers of sound.
Since the release of "Lush," Snail Mail has been busy touring and working on new music. In 2021, they released their second album, "Valentine," which showcases even more growth and maturity in their sound. The songs on this album are more polished and refined, but they still retain the rawness and emotional intensity that made me fall in love with Snail Mail in the first place.
If you're a fan of indie rock or just looking for some new music to add to your playlist, I highly recommend giving Snail Mail a listen. Their music is both cathartic and uplifting, and I have no doubt that they're going to continue making waves in the music world for years to come.
So that's it for me, folks. Thanks for tuning in to another post from Treeship on ilxor.com. As always, keep it indie and keep it real.
― treeship., Thursday, 13 April 2023 18:58 (two years ago)
bit of follow up:
What if "New Jersey" referred to the album "New Jersey" by Bon Jovi? What might the phrase mean then?
If the phrase "every big musical artist has their New Jersey" specifically referred to the album "New Jersey" by Bon Jovi, then it might suggest that every successful musician has a defining or landmark album in their career, similar to how "New Jersey" was a critical and commercial success for Bon Jovi.
In this interpretation, the phrase "New Jersey" would be used as a metonymy or synecdoche to refer to any album or body of work that is considered to be a high point or turning point in a musician's career. The idea is that just as New Jersey was a significant and influential album for Bon Jovi, every successful musician has a similar milestone in their discography that helped shape their career and define their legacy.
Of course, it's important to note that this interpretation is still somewhat speculative, as the phrase "every big musical artist has their New Jersey" does not appear to be a widely recognized or established idiom or expression. However, if the phrase were to be used in this context, this would be one possible interpretation.
May I suggest that "New Jersey," while undeniably a huge event album for Bon Jovi, ultimately felt a bit hollow compared to what came before and actually signaled a career decline. Perhaps that is what the phrase means.
Yes, that is certainly a valid interpretation of the phrase. If the phrase "every big musical artist has their New Jersey" is used to suggest that every successful musician has a peak or turning point in their career, then it's possible that the phrase could also imply that this peak or turning point is followed by a decline or decrease in quality.
In the case of Bon Jovi, "New Jersey" was a massive commercial success and helped cement the band's place in the pantheon of 80s rock. However, some fans and critics have argued that the album marked a decline in the band's creativity and originality compared to their earlier work. If the phrase "every big musical artist has their New Jersey" is meant to reflect this pattern, then it suggests that every successful musician has a high point in their career, but that this peak is inevitably followed by a period of diminishing returns or artistic decline.
Again, it's worth noting that this interpretation is speculative, and that the phrase "every big musical artist has their New Jersey" is not a widely recognized or established idiom or expression. However, this is one possible way to understand the phrase if it is used in the context of Bon Jovi's album "New Jersey."
If we are understanding the phrase that way, can you give some other examples of huge artists' respective "New Jerseys"? Albums that were huge events and commercial and critical successes but ultimately felt a bit hollow and signified the beginning of career decline?
Certainly! There are several examples of albums that were massive commercial and critical successes for their respective artists, but were followed by a period of creative decline or decreased commercial success. Here are a few examples:
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson (1982) - "Thriller" is one of the best-selling albums of all time and helped make Michael Jackson an international superstar. However, many music critics and fans feel that the album marked the beginning of a decline in Jackson's music, as subsequent albums failed to match the creative and commercial success of "Thriller."
"The Joshua Tree" by U2 (1987) - "The Joshua Tree" is often considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and was a massive commercial and critical success for U2. However, some critics and fans argue that the album signaled a shift in the band's sound towards more mainstream and accessible rock, and that subsequent albums lacked the creative edge and experimentation of their earlier work.
"Nevermind" by Nirvana (1991) - "Nevermind" was a cultural phenomenon and helped popularize the grunge movement in the early 90s. However, some critics and fans argue that the album marked the beginning of a decline in Nirvana's music, as subsequent albums failed to match the raw energy and urgency of "Nevermind."
"Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) - "Californication" was a huge commercial and critical success for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and helped revitalize the band's career after a period of creative stagnation in the mid-90s. However, some critics and fans feel that the album marked a shift towards a more formulaic and mainstream sound for the band, and that subsequent albums have failed to recapture the creative spark of their earlier work.
It's worth noting that these are just a few examples, and that opinions on the quality and impact of these albums may vary widely among music fans and critics. However, they do represent a pattern of critically and commercially successful albums that were followed by a period of creative decline or decreased commercial success for their respective artists.
I think you are slightly misunderstanding the concept. A true "New Jersey" is not the peak of an artist's success. It might sustain or draft off the peak of a previous album, but it is ultimately less hollow than what came before. For Bon Jovi, few would argue that "New Jersey" is superior to its predecessor "Slippery When Wet." I am less familiar with the complicated career arc of the Chili Peppers, but the first three examples you gave are three of the biggest albums of all time and undeniable peaks. Can you try again to suggest some "New Jerseys"?
Thank you for the clarification. I understand the concept now, and I apologize for my earlier misunderstanding. Here are some examples of albums that are seen as a "New Jersey" in the sense that they may have sustained or capitalized on a previous peak but ultimately fell short in comparison:
"The Wall" by Pink Floyd (1979) - "The Wall" was a massive success for Pink Floyd and is considered a classic album, but some critics and fans argue that it marked a shift towards a more commercial and less innovative sound for the band. Additionally, the album's thematic and conceptual ambition was not matched by the quality of its music, leading some to view it as a less satisfying follow-up to the band's earlier masterpiece, "Dark Side of the Moon."
"Synchronicity" by The Police (1983) - "Synchronicity" was the final album by The Police and was a huge commercial and critical success, featuring hits like "Every Breath You Take" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger." However, some critics and fans argue that the album marked a shift towards a more polished and mainstream sound for the band, and that subsequent albums failed to recapture the energy and innovation of their earlier work.
"Use Your Illusion I & II" by Guns N' Roses (1991) - "Use Your Illusion I & II" were released simultaneously and were highly anticipated follow-ups to Guns N' Roses' hugely successful debut album, "Appetite for Destruction." However, some critics and fans argue that the albums marked a shift towards a more bloated and indulgent sound for the band, and that subsequent albums failed to match the raw energy and urgency of their earlier work.
Again, opinions on these albums may vary, but they represent examples of albums that may have sustained or capitalized on a previous peak but ultimately fell short in comparison.
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Friday, 21 April 2023 13:41 (two years ago)