I Don't Believe People When They Talk About How Great Destroyer, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, M.Ward, & Papa M Are.

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am i just paranoid? and no, i didn't go see chris brokaw last nite. i'm sure he was great. i might go see otis taylor though. is he good live? never mind, i probably wouldn't believe you.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I've heard Iron & Wine. He's pretty good.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

am i just paranoid?

Most of them leave me cold too (the exception being Papa M, but that was some time ago, not in the 'yay, dull country' phase).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

All those artists you name are great--if you were born yesterday and have naturally low expectations.

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:44 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't think destroyer belongs in that list.

― are 'friends' electricsound? (electricsound), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:46 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i agree that destroyer isn't applicable. but i also agree with the thread premise.

― duke here, Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

oh wait that's Dan Bejar, huh? I haven't heard Destroyer but I like his songs in New Pornographers better than AC Newman's.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Saturday, 19 June 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Destroyer destroys all competitors

― Gilles Meloche (Gilles Meloche), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Bejar and Ward are two of a very few number of artists Wifey and I both enjoy equally (ane very, very much).

I think seeing M Ward live is key - especially if you play guitar and / or admire those who are extremely fucking proficient. We love him. Maybe you haven't herad the right tracks?

Destroyer? It's all on the records, man - if you don't dig Streethawk: A Seduction, you won't like anything else, but I think that album is fantastic. Surely you can at least appreciate him on a lyrical level?

I like Sufjan, Pajo and Beam - but I never really break out any of their albums. They're nice enough - some really great songs (especially Beam) but, overall, don't hit me the way the others do. So I guess I'm only defending M Ward and Destroyer to you, Scott.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

its unlikely that anyone will come along and blow soxx off of feet ala Buckley,Van Morrison or Perhacs,but the fact is these people are breathing in and out,in and out and the mere rustle of their brocaded cuffs on the fret board induces wetness in many..There are alot of naked Emperors,black or otherwise and it's not as important to slobber in sync but instead to cock an ear to the tinkle and see if any gets on the rug.
dan

― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i love the first three, and i'm an indie hater

― Symplistic (shmuel), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Destroyer, lots, think Bejar's a tremendous lyricist - Iron & Wine I enjoy hearing, sometimes a lot, though I'm not passionate about it.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I dont know about Papa M, but Aerial M's Wedding Song 3 gave me a miscarriage it rocked so hard.

― David Allen (David Allen), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Destroyer and Iron & Wine are ace. The rest I'm not really familiar with, but am very curious about.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Saturday, 19 June 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha, it just occurred to me that this thread doubles as a "fuck all that shit you like, roger adultery!" But I didn't mean for it to be. (plus, i am a genuine fan of roger solo, and blood group roger, and wooden wand roger.) i was just listening to the cd that came with my Believer magazine music issue which is mostly so-so.(i liked the books track though. and the mountain goats track! but i already know that john d. is a writer i admire from his website.) but it's got an iron & wine song on it that is just so precious and aching and ultimately annoying...i don't know, i like pretty music. (the track is "jesus, the mexican boy") and it's got M.Ward on it and Papa M and they just kinda suffered by being lumped together like that. (We do have some M.Ward on a CDR that a friend gave us. I will listen more. The friend loves them too. He played on the island not too long ago. so did Richard Buckner.) And I will check out Destroyer. Maybe.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:09 (twenty-one years ago)

destroyer is the worst of the list, well, no, Papa M is the worst but it's close. the others are just barely there, sufjan stevens is mediocrity personified but i guess he's cute and pitchfork goes for that. twee kids.

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I've not heard Stevens but was told by an ex music director that he has to have bodyguards with him at shows so he doesn't get mauled by screaming fans.Papa M is not as good as For Carnation who are not as good as Slint.As for the others I like them just fine. Especially Iron and Wine live.

― brg30 (brg30), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

You know how there are death metal bands who want to play harder and faster and be more extreme than anyone? I think I get a vibe from some of these dudes like they want to "ache" harder than anyone. Like they are hardcore achers.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"jesus the mexican boy" is pretty cloying. you should try other songs by them.

― Symplistic (shmuel), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Some people like Kraft cheese squares melted onto Wonder white bread.

― The Disbeliever (Da ve Segal), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Boy i really liked that Sun Kil Moon record, lemme tellya. That one hit the spot.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

there is a daytime dj on bbc's 6 Music that plays US indie rock/ alt.country bore music all the time ...

Gideon Coe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/presenters/gideon_coe/

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

The Sun Kil Moon had its moments. Actually, just one moment.

Steven's has really great arangements on the Michigan record.

― David Allen (David Allen), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

why is this board called i love music? i think this place should be called i love snickering, sneering, winking, sighing and poking people with sticks.

― shut up, Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

If you had that phrase trademarked you'd be a millionaire.

― David Allen (David Allen), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw hell, all i ever do is talk about how much i fucking love music on this board. day in and day out like clockwork. I am allowed my moments of doubt. Plus, poking people with sticks is severely underrated.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Agreed.

Hey, Scott, no thang brotherman. I wasn't really feeling that Lansing-Dreiden record you were going on about either (which I bought based on yr ecstatic endorsement) - no big deal, i got it for 50 cents (promo copy) - diffrent folk for different folks

still, i think you oughta download these and then decide...

M Ward - anything from Transiguration of Vincent
Destroyer - The Sublimation Hour
Iron and Wine - Sodom, South Georgia

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 20 June 2004 01:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"why is this board called i love music? i think this place should be called i love snickering, sneering, winking, sighing and poking people with sticks."

This is very OTM

― Debito (Debito), Sunday, 20 June 2004 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I know I've heard recent Papa M and Destroyer records and cannot recall much about them except that they were so vaugely rocky vaugely experimental vaguely something-or-other that I couldn't bear to listen to them all the way through.

M. Ward is good for a few cuts, but only a few. I almost put "Vincent O'Brien" on my top ten singles list but the pleasure starting wearing off after a few listens. The voice gets to be a problem. I've never had a store-bought banana daquiri (I've never had a daquiri, for that matter) but when Robert Christgau once compared Cat Stevens' voice to one I know exactly what he means. M. Ward's voice has that same quality: gruff in a cutesy sorta jazzy hipster kinda way. When the music is explosive enough I don't care but gawd that slow-burning Bowie cover, ick ick ick.

Sam Bream is too precious way too often. The last track on the last album even has this line about a perfectly made bed that just conjures up this horrid Martha Stewartized version of the Southern backwoods. But his soft-spoken whisperiness gets to me -- it's a soul too shattered to speak up.

I think Seven Swans might be one of the best things I've heard this year. I respond with horror and fascination at Sufjan's quiet longing for the end of the world and the annihilation of self through Christ. He sounds certain but not smug and I wonder how somebody, anybody can ever pull off that sense of calm that I could never hope to achieve.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:12 (twenty-one years ago)

scott rules!!!!

― el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

That Bowie cover is indeed horrible. (chalk up another cover becoming a self-parody.) I like most the rest of the album though! and sun kil moon, iron & wine, richard buckner.

All those artists you name are great--if you were born yesterday and have naturally low expectations.

Music taste as a pissing match... way to break new ground on ILM!

― bnw (bnw), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:36 (twenty-one years ago)

This board should be called "blahblahblahblahOMGLOLblahblahblahblahROFFLEROFFLEblahblahblah"

― Gear! (Gear!), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Are you sure you want to make it sound noble?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 20 June 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Music taste as a pissing match... way to break new ground on ILM!"

Naw, it's no pissing match. I just have no time for mediocre indie rock that gets tons of fawning press. Comes a time when you have to call bullshit when you see it.

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Sunday, 20 June 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Did I make it sound noble, Michael? I don't think I was trying to. Just that there seemed to be some competitive hoarse whispering going on. Sometimes it can even creep me out! There is this one Yo La Tengo album I heard that has some serious sex-murderer creepycrawly stuff like that on it. And yet, I really like Lisa Germano, so there ya go. Different strokes, like Roger said.

And sorry if I steered ya wrong with the Lansing-Dreiden, Roger. But hey, for 50 cents...(I do love that album, but given YOUR tastes I can see why it wouldn't thrill you.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 04:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe I just like the weirdo stuff more. And some stuff that is really creepycrawly.(I always assumed that the Yo La Tengo album I heard was inadvertently creepy.) I like the new album from some dude in Frog Eyes. I like Devendra's first album. I love AOL/Gira. I love that Cerberus Shoal/Alvarius B album. (and Bastion of Itchy Preeves by Cerberus Shoal. But i guess this is more North Atlantic Post-Hardcore Barn-Psych territory.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 04:47 (twenty-one years ago)

That Bishop / Shoal CD still knocks me out in a big way - time has not diminished it's awesome-ness one bit

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 20 June 2004 05:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"this place should be called i love snickering, sneering, winking, sighing and poking people with sticks"

i love doing all those things

― Symplistic (shmuel), Sunday, 20 June 2004 08:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Daddino OTM upthread about Seven Swans, but that bit about the "perfect bed she made" on "Passing Afternoon" is my favorite line of the whole song, it's just so evocative and easily visualized to me. That one's a highlight for the album IMO, most of it's a definite drop-off from Creek Drank the Cradle, excepting "Naked As We Came," "Each Coming Night," "Sodom South Georgia," and that one.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Sunday, 20 June 2004 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Sufjan Stevens is the lord of the pretty indie rock fiefdom.

Sissies unite!

- Sir Cries-a-lot

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Sunday, 20 June 2004 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

scott - i must confess, after i wrote that post, i've started to dig that record after all. Listened to it twice thru this morning. Love that killer solo 1:50 into the second track. The best of it sounds like Duran Duran doing The Flamin' Groovies's "You Tore Me Down" covered by a veneer of fuzz, the worst of it sounds like The Clientele playing the Misfits in slo motion. I'm coming around...

― roger adultery, Sunday, 20 June 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Scott am I to take it you don't like the new Devendra Banhart album?

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 20 June 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I've only heard the new one once, John. Devendra gave a copy to my brother after they played a show together (with Roger as well!). I liked it. I think I like the first one more though. I liked the unhinged quality of the first record. The new one is more straight-forward. But good. I just haven't heard it enough to really comment more.

Hah! That's cool, roger.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I love that one of Devendra's big influences is Ella Jenkins of Folkways children's record fame! We play those records for baby Rufus. Although he prefers Raffi. I like Raffi too. Has Sufjan ever written a line as cool as "A Peanut butter sandwich made with jam/One for me and one for David Amram".

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Repeated exposure over the years as made me appreciate Raffi too. My favorite is the "Trouble With My Foot" song. Do you know that one?

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 20 June 2004 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

more defense for Destroyer here in this corner. i agree on pretty much all the others--not to say i don't like 'em at all--but Destroyer, IMHO, doesn't belong in this thread.

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Sunday, 20 June 2004 22:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hardcore Achers = early Notwist.

Software Achers = Console.

Extra Acher Needs Job = Ms. John Soda.

― nabiscothingy, Sunday, 20 June 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like M. Ward and Destroyer.

Here's the ILM M. Ward thread:

anybody heard M.Ward?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Papa M. is the best of the list by far. "Whatever, Mortal" is an excellent album, and I don't say that about many albums. M. Ward is also good, perhaps some would say in the same vein, but more inconsistent than Papa M.

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Monday, 21 June 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 23 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

i've wanted to like this whole crop of singersongwriter types...but i can't seem to find the guts in many of them. destroyer never gave me anything. i like the 1st iron and wine lp and the ep just fine (and the production on everything since has been useless, so i can't even judge the quality of the songs), but otherwise..these guys don't have the sheer offering of someone like devendra. they may be a good few steps above yr average subway busker of coffee house picker, but they don't strike me as giving up much beyond pretty or postcard sentiment.

as for sufjan, well ive heard one or two tracks and i'm getting to really understand that i just don't buy blog rock.

― bb (bbrz), Monday, 29 August 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

dude scott if you really love clever then Destroyer's "Streethawk" is an absolute must - so's "Thief" for that matter

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

i will check them out. dood at the record store could burn them for me. he is a big fan.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

man, I revived the thread to talk abt Otis Taylor and all everyone is talking about is indie rock again. good old ILM. I guess I will have to start an Otis Taylor thread for me and Steve Kiviat to watch the tumbleweeds on.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

I never went and saw him! I believe that he was good though.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 29 August 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

sufjan stevens = worst music to smoke out to ever
very 2 dimensional, though it's true the arrangements are pretty

― i love it!, Monday, 29 August 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

article from the la times on some of all this:

http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-soft35aug28,0,2754037.story?page=1&coll=la-home-magazine

(found on coolfer)

― bb (bbrz), Monday, 29 August 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

M. Ward is quite easily the cream of the crop of the artists discussed here. Brookers quote about the "timelessness" of his work is extremely true.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 29 August 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

It's like this: M.Ward and Pajo>Destroyer and Iron & Wine>Sufjan.

― Drooone, Friday, 15 June 2007 02:49 (eighteen years ago)

Ward just made an album with that actress Zooey Whatsherfuckingname. Kind of takes him down a notch.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Friday, 15 June 2007 02:51 (eighteen years ago)

destroyer is head and shoulders above any of the other doodz listed here

― pretzel walrus, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:01 (eighteen years ago)

Ward just made an album with that actress Zooey Whatsherfuckingname. Kind of takes ~~him~~ her down a notch.

― milo z, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:17 (eighteen years ago)

never forget
Destroye's Rubies

― gershy, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:22 (eighteen years ago)

Hey did you hear that Pitchfork may give this the elusive "10"?

― forksclovetofu, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:25 (eighteen years ago)

yes.

― Drooone, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:26 (eighteen years ago)

The first time I saw M Ward on tv he sounded awesome and then I saw him again with a bunch of extra indie fucks on stage playing the same song and they sounded like shiiiiiiiiit

― marmotwolof, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:36 (eighteen years ago)

also surfin stevens is still good

― forksclovetofu, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:50 (eighteen years ago)

i just got a new joe henry album in the mail. should i be scared? i also got a new solo album by some dude from Dumptruck! Dumptruck! i mean, wow.

the """"""""""""metal"""""""""" album that pajo put out this year is without a doubt the worst record i've heard all year.

― scott seward, Friday, 15 June 2007 03:52 (eighteen years ago)

Otis Taylor's on tour again. He needs a publicist. Someone's got to convince folks his droney weird blues ain't budweiser commercial music.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 15 June 2007 13:05 (eighteen years ago)

four months pass...

""""""""""""metal""""""""""
-- scott seward, Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:52 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark Link

HAHAHAH awesome

― stephen, Thursday, 18 October 2007 04:55 (eighteen years ago)

Destroyer and Iron & Wine: Both still good.

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 18 October 2007 04:57 (eighteen years ago)

Sufjan is bringing the funk back to indie at long last

― gershy, Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

Pajo>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>all the other shit in title.

― roxymuzak, Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:19 (eighteen years ago)

not exactly stiff competition

― electricsound, Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:20 (eighteen years ago)

where seward @?

― Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:22 (eighteen years ago)

De gustibus non est disputandum.

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:32 (eighteen years ago)

Scott smiles down on us all.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 18 October 2007 05:33 (eighteen years ago)

Post War is probably one of my favourite album titles haven't listened to it though Heh

― Future_Perfect, Thursday, 18 October 2007 06:09 (eighteen years ago)

i like that m.ward bowie cover :( am i the only one?

and i'd be satisfied forgetting that sufjan ever made other albums besides Michigan which is wonderful and i will defend it to the end

― ciderpress, Thursday, 18 October 2007 06:38 (eighteen years ago)

i like that m.ward bowie cover

You mean Let's Dance? Yeah, it's good. Moody. One of the best things I've heard from M. Ward.

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 18 October 2007 06:41 (eighteen years ago)

Ward rules

― Davey D, Thursday, 18 October 2007 07:11 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.tvsquad.com/images/2005/12/ward_cleaver.jpg

― gershy, Thursday, 18 October 2007 07:26 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.uh.edu/engines/amwardsmall.jpg

― Davey D, Thursday, 18 October 2007 07:27 (eighteen years ago)

yeah M. Ward's about the only guy in the thread title that i even come close to liking

― stephen, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:27 (eighteen years ago)

The new Iron & Wine is pretty fucking good actually.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:31 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, for real. i wasn't into them before. but the first song rules. and then the sitar riff from "do it again" bite two minutes into the second song seals the deal

― kamerad, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:51 (eighteen years ago)

The new Iron & Wine is pretty fucking good actually.

OTM.

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 18 October 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

yup

― henry s, Thursday, 18 October 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

Saw this in today's Pfork headlines and thought of this thread:

Watch the National Play "Terrible Love" in an Abandoned Castle on Pitchfork.tv

Uh... I'll pass, thanks.

I Don't Believe People When They Talk About How Great ~~Destroyer, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, M.Ward, & Papa M~~ The National Are.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, 3 May 2010 18:49 (fifteen years ago)

lol. i still love four of the five acts in the thread title! (no idea what "papa m" is/are).

― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 3 May 2010 18:52 (fifteen years ago)

Dave Pajo, ex-Slint.

― Trip Maker, Monday, 3 May 2010 18:52 (fifteen years ago)

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/5488/destroyeru.jpg

― ksh, Monday, 3 May 2010 18:52 (fifteen years ago)

you use your full name in reviews!

― J0rdan S., Monday, 3 May 2010 18:52 (fifteen years ago)

good tweet review.

― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 3 May 2010 18:57 (fifteen years ago)

is Abandoned Castle a band?

― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 3 May 2010 19:02 (fifteen years ago)

it's a new show where Joanna Newsom hides in an ol' castle and reviews the latest & greatest in taxidermy

― ksh, Monday, 3 May 2010 19:06 (fifteen years ago)

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 20 June 2004 00:17 (5 years ago)

still lolling @ this tbh

― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Monday, 3 May 2010 20:26 (fifteen years ago)

now I wanna rename my depressing folk act hardcore acres

― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Monday, 3 May 2010 20:27 (fifteen years ago)

Even among skot OTMs, that one is OTM.

― International Harvester Of Eyes (Jon Lewis), Monday, 3 May 2010 20:30 (fifteen years ago)

eight months pass...

I wish I had been able to see Otis Taylor tonight at Blues Alley in W. DC. His 2010 cd Clovis People Vol. 3 is another impressive effort (that has been overlooked like all his releases).

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 February 2011 04:42 (fifteen years ago)

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