intelligent soft rock? (ISR)

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hall and oates
steely dan
michael macdonald

etc...

ISR obviously should include fender rhodes and excellent microphone placement with a tendency to generally lean towards the "blue eyed soul" side of the fence.

thoughts?

― zach (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Don Henley - Boys of Summer

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Todd Rundgren?

― Richard C (avoid80), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick Lowe's The Convincer

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Snow would be ISM queens, obv.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"ISR"?? pitch the wire, right now.

― g--ff (gcannon), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

roxy music - avalon

(but seriously, fuck a 'intelligent'. why does something have to be 'intelligent' for us to like it?)

― Dave M. (rotten03), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think that's the implication. I think it's more of a play on the IDM genre-name.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

IDM isn't necessarily "intelligent" all the time, but it's a name that's stuck for better or worse...I'm thinking ISR just has a good ring to it...otherwise what is it, 70s AM rock?

― zach layton (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Young - 'No Parlez' and 'Secret of Association'

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

joni mitchell ... good call

Hissing of summer lawns

Mini Ripperton? Or is that not "I" enough compared to Joni?

― zach layton (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Every volume of CAFE APRES MIDI should do you just fine.

― Micro F Gill (Michael F Gill), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Phoenix
Avalanches?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

they might even be MicrosoftRock

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

just did this one.
Soft Rock Hits of the 70s - search

and even this one.
60s/70s Soft Rock Weird/Cool Vocal Arrangements

― JaXoN (JasonD), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Supertramps's Breakfast in America?

― Justin Farrar (Justin Farrar), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Leonard Cohen (at least since the 80s or whenever he stopped doing folky stuff).

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

yes...very nice. Those are good threads.

I think Phoenix ballads qualify as ISR, which makes me feel that it's a bit more expansive a genre as soft rock, which tends to make you think of the 70s. What else could you say is ISR outside of the 60s and 70s? What's ISR in 2004? (besides Phoenix)?

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

'intelligent' has snobby connotations, even though it clearly is a play on 'IDM'. god i'm a humorless bastard today.

okay so that aside what steely dan album should i start with (other than Aja)? i feel i owe the drummer of my high school jazz combo a long-overdue apology.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it's okay to use the "I" as it basically mocks the concept.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

ISR in 2004 = Kings of Convenience ?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

In the AOR/Soft rock playlists we've got:

Two Tickets to Paradise - Eddie Money
and
Can't Live (If living is without you) - Air Supply

which I would argue is not ISR, whereas say...Nilsson is ISR...especially the moonbeam song on Schmilsson.

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Gaucho, in my opinion is the #1 ISR album of all time

>what steely dan album should i start with (other than Aja)? i feel i owe the drummer of my high school jazz combo a long-overdue apology.

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

ISR in 2004 = Kings of Convenience ?

OTM, also Cornelius.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:57 (twenty-two years ago)

First couple of Jackson Browne albums, Fleetwood Mac maybe

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know how you can see Cornelius as soft rock at all.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd start with Katy Lied, actually. Gaucho leans ever so close to the smooth-jazz end of the spectrum -- it's not a bad album at all, but it might scare somone off.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Cornelius not-ISR: "I Hate Hate", "2010", "Free Fall", "New Music Machine"

Cornelius ISR: "Drop", "Brazil", "Seashore/Dream" or whatever it's called

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Air = ISR for shizzle

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck Sea Change, although much less I and much more SR.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

yo la tengo?

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Gabriel - So

in particular: Red Rain

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Tindersticks
Lambchop

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Miami Vice 80s type ISR

Phil Bailey/ Phil Collins - Easy Lover
John Waite - Missing You

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

David Bowie - Let's Dance

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

The Stranglers - Golden Brown

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Pernice Brothers
Bettie Serveert
Mercury Rev (Deserter's Songs)

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Marillion - Lavender

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci

― frankE (frankE), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Furniture - Brilliant Mind

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

FLEETWOOD FUCKING MAC, DUH

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Latin Quarter - Modern Times

Modern Times
No Ordinary Return
Radio Africa
Toulouse
America For Beginners
Eddie
No Rope As Long As Time
Seaport September
New Millionaires
Truth About John
Cora

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

japan - tin drum

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

in the early-mid 80s on a Thursday Night Tommy Vance on Radio 1 had a melodic rock show - anyone remember it?

Dixie Peach also had a Saturday nite rock show as well

and Andy Peebles on a Friday night played ISR types like Peter Gabriel and that The Dream of the Blue Turtles album by Sting

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

What's ISR in 2004? (besides Phoenix)?

Who's Recording Seventies Soft Rock Now?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

yes...that works...High Llamas, Aluminum Group, Maximillian Hecker...that'll work.

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

China Crisis - King in a Catholic Style

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

The Lotus Eaters - First Picture Of You

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Icicle Works - Love is a Wonderful Colour

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Echo & the Bunnnymen - Killing Moon

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

The Blue Nile - Tinseltown in the Rain

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - Forest Fire

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

U2 - Bad [from (The Unforgettable Fire)]

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

THe Waterboys - The Whole Of The Moon

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Shriekback - Faded Flowers
Shriekback - Fish Below The Ice

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Carol King

― zach_L (wordyrappington), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

cowboy junkies

― 57 7th (calstars), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

american music club 'san francisco'

― 57 7th (calstars), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Journey

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

scott walker
randy newman
colin blunstone
all of prince's ballads
laura nyro
stew
"the girl from ipanema"
many warren zevon ballads

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

boz scaggs

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Hm, I've never heard Japan called soft rock.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

How are Phoebe Snow's albums? I really liked when she sang "All Over" on SNL. Her backup singers were so fruity it was great.

That's interesting jel -> Departure actually fits the original description precisely (loads of Fender Rhodes, impeccable 1978 studio shmarts, a white boy soul-wannabe).

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm currently working on a (sort of) ISR mix, but it's more maudlin than intelligent.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

What is the difference between this and AOR?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

How ironically you wear your mullets.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 September 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that directed at me?

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 9 September 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Dadrock vs Momrock?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 9 September 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, a couple of the Eagles' best soft rock songs are from their first album (1971) Peaceful Easy Feeling and Train Leaves Here This Morning.

I'm actually listing good songs by the Eagles. Incredible.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 9 September 2004 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, somewhere deep in Topanga Canyon, Asylum Records own this thread.

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Thursday, 9 September 2004 05:57 (twenty-two years ago)

tortoise
tortoise
tortoise
tortoise
tortoise
tortoise
tortoise

― autovac (autovac), Thursday, 9 September 2004 06:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Post-Richey Manic Street Preachers if they weren't trying too hard.

― Ben Dot (1977), Thursday, 9 September 2004 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Phoebe Snow doesn't have her own thread but was mentioned on this one -- She has had a stroke. So everybody send positive vibes Phoebe's way because she is an awesome talent and has had more than her share of hard times!

― the most sacred couple in Christendom (J0hn D.), Thursday, 11 March 2010 19:57 (sixteen years ago)

Get well soon, Phoebe.

On intelligent soft rock, Al Stewart's Year of the Cat and Time Passages pretty much own this thread.

― anagram, Thursday, 11 March 2010 20:41 (sixteen years ago)

10cc's "I'm Mandy, Fly Me" comes to mind.

― noleander, Thursday, 11 March 2010 20:43 (sixteen years ago)

On intelligent soft rock, Al Stewart's ~~Year of the Cat~~ and Time Passages pretty much own this thread.

Fixed, and OTM.

Want: Intellient soft rock? Get: Chevy Van.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 12 March 2010 04:32 (sixteen years ago)

Ween are really good at doing these types of songs- "Baby Bitch, It's Gonna Be (Alright), Stay Forever, etc.

― ColinO, Friday, 12 March 2010 08:25 (sixteen years ago)

beefheart - observatory crest

― wilter, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 09:04 (sixteen years ago)

Klaatu

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 10:23 (sixteen years ago)

Goodnight Vienna.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 10:27 (sixteen years ago)

not sure what 'intelligent' means here, but the new Ariel Pink track is great soft rock

― gnarly sceptre, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:47 (sixteen years ago)

Robert Fripp - Exposure (1979)

― Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 15:52 (sixteen years ago)

alan parsons project - eye in the sky

― iago g., Wednesday, 17 March 2010 07:09 (sixteen years ago)

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