Grimes/Claire Boucher thread

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Darkseid is great and putting it so early in the tracklisting is evidence that the album is going out of its way to stick out at awkward angles.

Her voice remains paper thin but there's something really interesting about the vocal melodies on this album, then again I think Grimes is at her least interesting when she making more or less conventional pop hooks (cf Realiti do not @ me).

Matt DC, Monday, 24 February 2020 08:10 (four years ago) link

which version tho

or something, Monday, 24 February 2020 11:53 (four years ago) link

poll

an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Monday, 24 February 2020 12:06 (four years ago) link

I love the drums on "My Name is Dark."

TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 February 2020 12:14 (four years ago) link

I’m finding it fine overall but I have a thing for “reverb albums” which this sure as shit is. Sounds pretty familiar tho, and the “digital faerie” schtick feels about as fresh as steampunk.

an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Monday, 24 February 2020 12:35 (four years ago) link

If anything to me this album sounds too polished (caveat - on two listens, one in the kitchen, one while walking to work), in that any issues I have with the sound come from instruments being so compressed that they basically disappear into a wall of sound. I'm pretty certain that's a deliberate aesthetic decision, though. Grimes has never been interested in her music sounding 'real' anymore tha she has been in her image looking 'real'. She's all about unrealiti.

Early take is that I quite enjoyed this, and want to listen to it again. I like that it's not as stridently pop and hook-reliant as Art Angels, it feels like it might reward the kind of repeated, almost ambient listening that Visions really benefitted from.

Those tinny guitar chords are like the most Oasis chords I've heard in years, which is v funny. I am very happy with the idea that Elon might have played them.

Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 24 February 2020 12:51 (four years ago) link

“This album is too polished”
“This album is too shambolic”

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Monday, 24 February 2020 19:08 (four years ago) link

this sounds like a Moby album

specifically, Everything Is Wrong

pet friendly (Euler), Monday, 24 February 2020 19:15 (four years ago) link

Love this album and don’t really have any issues with the production, but then I am pretty much the opposite of an audiophile.

Tim F, Monday, 24 February 2020 20:12 (four years ago) link

Haha it kinda does sound like it was produced by Moby in 1995 though.

Tim F, Monday, 24 February 2020 20:12 (four years ago) link

Euler otm (also: lol).

romanesque architect (pomenitul), Monday, 24 February 2020 20:15 (four years ago) link

Delete Forever sounds better w/repeated listens. I like that it's a slightly cut-up, uncanny valley, highly fraught take on this sort of song. It has seemingly generic parts but not a generic execution.

omar little, Monday, 24 February 2020 20:15 (four years ago) link

I would say from first listens that "My Name Is Dark" is easily the strongest song here (and one of her best)

winters (josh), Monday, 24 February 2020 21:00 (four years ago) link

but then I am pretty much the opposite of an audiophile.

― Tim F, Monday, February 24, 2020 2:12 PM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

you're too big a get physical fan for this to be totally true lol

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:09 (four years ago) link

I like this on first listen, it holds my attention more than some of her previous stuff. "Violence" kind of sounds like a deconstructed version of Euasure's "Chains of Love"... that's my big insight/contribution for the day.

Ticket Tout (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:22 (four years ago) link

the Garbage lyric ref in "My Name Is Dark" ("stupid girl") seems like a nicely direct ref to the album's main era of inspiration.

Ticket Tout (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:33 (four years ago) link

but then I am pretty much the opposite of an audiophile.

― Tim F, Monday, February 24, 2020 2:12 PM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

you're too big a get physical fan for this to be totally true lol

― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:09 (twenty minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I suppose how it breaks down for me is that I am obsessed with arrangements but have never really cared about having high quality speakers, headphones etc, so I'm not typically offended by music which self-proclaimed audiophiles claim falls flat on those grounds.

I can definitely hear that this album's sound (esp. the percussion) feels both deliberately hollowed out and compressed, and I can see how this tends to reduce or interfere with the listener's ability to really appreciate the layering in real time, certainly on the first few listens (by way of example, some of the rhythm tracks are pretty complex, but they don't exactly call attention to themselves in that regard).

But this feels pretty consistent with the general approach on some of the back-half of Visions - something that may be obscured if one's recollection of that album reduces to like "Genesis" and "Oblivion".

Tim F, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:37 (four years ago) link

Yeah there are def. some similarities to the production values of the first Garbage album (not the second).

Tim F, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 00:38 (four years ago) link

I’ve seen a few reviews which have pretty amateurishly criticized this for not being a clear and focused assessment of the climate crisis when it seems obvious that the subject matter was more an inspiration and gave her a direction in ways that are not present in the lyrics vs her doing a Neil Young Monsanto Years thing.

One review I read criticized Darkseid for not having much in the way of lyrical content and quoted Grimes’ part as evidence......

Reading some of the takedowns and I think writers again should stop trying to treat lyrics as the whole truth of the matter and stop criticizing an album for what it’s not content wise vs what it is. Which still doesn’t make sense bc it feels like a progression from the more desolate sounding parts of Visions so you’d think people wouldn’t be shocked by how it sounds.

omar little, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 01:09 (four years ago) link

Yeah - the idea of dinging this album b/c the stated "concept" doesn't come thru is laughable (I mean, it doesn't, but who gaf... Grimes fans, I guess?)

Ticket Tout (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 01:23 (four years ago) link

also basically every concept album ever loses the thread midway through at best, why should Grimes be any different?

bold caucasian eroticism (Simon H.), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 01:28 (four years ago) link

Yeah there are def. some similarities to the production values of the first Garbage album (not the second).

― Tim F, Monday, February 24, 2020 7:38 PM

I don't hear it at all. The first Garbage boasted a real clarity, and, just to be clear, I don't view "clarity" as a virtue. The back of this album reminds me of a denser, thicker Art Angels. Less replete with hooks, although you may count the distorted harmonies as hooks (I do). It is, however, foolish to discount listeners looking for a "Realiti" or "Flesh Without Blood." "You'll Miss Me When I'm Not Around" and "My Name Is Dark" come close, though.

TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 01:58 (four years ago) link

I mostly meant in the way that the guitars and the electronics tend to bleed into another a lot, though some of the album tracks may be a better example of that than, like, "Queer" or something.

In my head I could imagine the third Curve album being an even closer reference point but other than the use of "Chinese Burn" on Buffy I haven't revisited that album in over twenty years.

Tim F, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 03:48 (four years ago) link

have finally heard this album, which I generally like to really like but is definitely patchy in quality

like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 04:20 (four years ago) link

I don't hear curve at all except maybe "you'll miss me when I'm not around," which is mixed the exact opposite as a curve song would be

like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 04:34 (four years ago) link

I agree this sort of sounds like produced by Moby pre-play but I don’t agree it sounds like Garbage’s debut. That one actually sounds good.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 05:19 (four years ago) link

This doesn’t sound like Garbage but it does sound like garbage

: >

There I made a joke.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 05:23 (four years ago) link

I think it’s cool that contemporary artists are putting a new spin on that mid/late-‘90s sound; I personally feel like it never reached its full potential back in the actual era.

Ticket Tout (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 05:41 (four years ago) link

Heavy compression as aesthetic (as opposed to hamfisted mastering) has been a thing for years now - Oneohtrix, Arca, the first Twigs album etc etc. Sounds pureed and fused together into a veneer - this is definitely deliberate and it works here.

Sounds like shit when there's just one sound in the mix admittedly but that hardly ever happens here.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 09:10 (four years ago) link

The last Holly Herndon, Yves Tumor, Chino Amobi...

Matt DC, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 09:13 (four years ago) link

Just realized there's a Deluxe Edition of MIss Anthropocene that adds "We Appreciate Power" + four alt. mixes of other album tracks.

Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:44 (four years ago) link

Actually no, “So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth - Art Mix” is the strongest song here

winters (josh), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:52 (four years ago) link

It’s totally fair tho to not appreciate how it’s deployed ... like it’s been around enough to “get it” and still have it be ineffective

Nb I still think this album rules, I am just imagining alternate versions w different mixes

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:53 (four years ago) link

Just realized there's a Deluxe Edition of MIss Anthropocene that adds "We Appreciate Power" + four alt. mixes of other album tracks.

― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Tuesday, February 25, 2020 1:44 PM (eight minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Aha! What I was looking for

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:54 (four years ago) link

Call me a commercial sell out if you must but i prefer the algorithm mixes

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:58 (four years ago) link

It makes me laugh (in a good way) on "My Name Is Dark" when she sings, "...the girl who plays with fii-YAAAH"

Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 20:03 (four years ago) link

eh i never want "my name is dark" to end so i can't agree xp

american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 20:04 (four years ago) link

I must say, to go from this album to the new Soccer Mommy is like stepping out of a fabulous, confusing party after a couple drinks into someone's parlor for bubbly water.

TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 20:04 (four years ago) link

Picked up the CD at lunch (to really appreciate the nuances of that heavy compression, lol); had to settle for the standard edition, cuz that’s all they’re selling :(

I don’t get that, why not max out the CD?

Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 20:54 (four years ago) link

eh i never want "my name is dark" to end so i can't agree xp

― american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, February 25, 2020 2:04 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

Was this to me? I just mean for the ones that have algorithm versions

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 21:44 (four years ago) link

yes, and "my name is dark" has an algorithm mix

american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 21:45 (four years ago) link

wait did ai mix this and that’s why it sounds like ass? (tbc it’s actually good to not hear the difference between good and bad mixes as a music enjoyer, and some of the best
music ever sounds like shit)

Vapor waif (uptown churl), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 23:28 (four years ago) link

Oh weird Apple Music did that thing where it hides the track from me on that one

Yeah idk why they made it shorter thats bad

ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 01:00 (four years ago) link

LP version is 6-plus minutes shorter than the CD release. it lops a couple minutes off So Heavy, My Name is Dark, and IDORU. i'm glad i've got the vinyl but would prefer it to have the full length tracks. this album owns.

omar little, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 01:11 (four years ago) link

God, the d’n’b drop in “4ÆM” is such a massive pleasure... listening to this album is like blasting the world’s greatest RealAudio stream in 1997.

I don’t even care to try deciphering the levels of irony involved in her “choices” on these songs... I wouldn’t succeed, but it doesn’t even matter; it’s all equally funny/awesome/slamming whatever the intentions behind it.

Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 02:23 (four years ago) link

the "algorithm mixes" are just basically radio edits i thought? with the "algorithm" referring to the shorter lengths being ideal for spotify playlists etc. instead of radio. i don't hear any other changes

ufo, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 02:25 (four years ago) link

the mixer was fired and replaced with a minimax program

like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 03:24 (four years ago) link

Heavy compression as aesthetic (as opposed to hamfisted mastering) has been a thing for years now - Oneohtrix, Arca, the first Twigs album etc etc. Sounds pureed and fused together into a veneer - this is definitely deliberate and it works here.

Sounds like shit when there's just one sound in the mix admittedly but that hardly ever happens here.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, February 25, 2020 1:10 AM (twenty hours ago)

The last Holly Herndon, Yves Tumor, Chino Amobi...

― Matt DC, Tuesday, February 25, 2020 1:13 AM (twenty hours ago)

This album sounds worse production wise than anything produced by any of those artists honestly (okay - Arca is guilty of some bad mixing with his early work and the first Twigs EP is def poor). Herndon's production is mostly outstanding - not even sure how she's even brought up here.

I am just a bit miffed at the regression of mix quality on this compared to her last few. She's progressively improved the quality of her sound over the years until this one. If it was her deliberate intention to put out an "amateurish" mix to create an atmosphere, okay - but I still don't like it. Shame, because the music deserves more.

octobeard, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 06:09 (four years ago) link

I haven't listened to this album enough yet to know if I like it or not but 2 things are sure :
- I like it better than Art Angels
- IDORU is lovely and arguably her best song since Visions
(also lol the "Wonderwall" guitar in "Delete Forever")

AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 09:14 (four years ago) link

2 tracks into my #firstlisten on bus ride home

surprised most of the discussion itt is about production being thin or lacking, i find it’s the songwriting that’s conspicuously absent. these songs are well produced but they sound like the rave in the matrix reloaded. track 1 prob worst grimes song since the pre-visions era, sounds like a parody or a fans attempt at a grimes song, the

song 3 (country)

liking this more. would fit on art angels

song 4 “violence”

much better. not sure why it takes 5 years between each album to make songs that are 15% gothier, but this ones pretty good

song 5

i think I’m starting to see what you guys are talking about re: production. pretty fun when the breaks come in but the mix is a little confusing/cluttered. this could smash with Art Angela style production. idg the singing in this, it’s just

6 new gods

didn’t make much of an impression. lots of reverb, maybe too much

7

sounds just like that one on art angels. she’s really smashing the sustain/reverb. great beat, chorus is v catchy too. i like the guitar riff at the end. this ones def a highlight

mostly this album is making me want to listen to art angels again so far. also it makes me want to play PlayStation 1

8 you’ll miss me

beat slaps right out the gate. kinda sounds like a charli xcx song (good). really good songwriting, another high light imho. don’t think it ranks w her best material but perhaps it’s too soon to tel

9 before fever

kinda sounds like chill wave mumblerap... p bad. chorus is an improvement

i kind of feel like she’s got a similar process as kanye where she intentionally fucks her album up last minute or rushes it to try and get that lightning in a bottle... there’s no way these tracks were fussed over for 5 years. art angels sounded so heavily crafted

10

drums are drenched in reverb... set them free

not sure if there’s another song on this album but I’m at my stop. overall pretty good album, glad i didn’t have high expectations of it, will maybe listen to it a couple more times

flopson, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 10:41 (four years ago) link


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