Collected Animals

if you want to investigate i have a theory that the United Bamboo performance PB did with rusty santos as Together has a kinship (http://www.mediafire.com/?eb8ialqn0wrucep). it's from a few weeks earlier

Soul Capturer is stuck in my head yet again. What is it about that song? I don't even really like it that much! It's pretty good, but among the crop of new songs, it's one of the less impactful to me... but damn, that melody gets stuck in my head multiple days a week. ive only heard it a handful of times

whatever happened to that collab sonic boom told us about

wonder if the madrid stuff was from that?

Pete said Love of my Life is from the Collab LP but we don't know about the others

Edit:LP not EP whoops

He said LP am I taking that too literally that I think it's a full-length?

Nah you're right. Brain fart

if you want to investigate i have a theory that the United Bamboo performance PB did with rusty santos as Together has a kinship (http://www.mediafire.com/?eb8ialqn0wrucep). it's from a few weeks earlier

Hmmm, interesting! I will investigate these recordings further later on. I've been off of work recently, so basically all last week besides Halloween I've been archiving all significantly different AC song in their highest quality. Not including every live recording, but only ones where there's new songs, radically different versions of existing songs, or are otherwise notable and cut them all up into individual files as well as bring audio levels up with limiting/EQing. Basically I'm trying to have it so every recording I have can be somewhat flawlessly crossfaded into eachother if I wanted to do so. Which I do sometimes.

If you can be arsed, I'd love to hear what you've done but I appreciate it's probably a ball ache to upload.

Soul Capturer is stuck in my head yet again. What is it about that song? I don't even really like it that much! It's pretty good, but among the crop of new songs, it's one of the less impactful to me... but damn, that melody gets stuck in my head multiple days a week. ive only heard it a handful of times

It really sounds like nothing else. That powerful melody coupled with that pavement-esque 'dying in the desert' feeling is like nothing else, that track has some wild potential. Excited to hear it get more work (hopefully), cuz it's a bit clunky as is but man there's magic hidden in there.

Absolutely. Trying to figure out what is cool to upload outside of the Live splits/remasters. I also have all the Deakin Piano jams with just general leveling and other mild cleanup to them. And the O'Brien show songs relating to the band, but I assume most people have them (and it seems like links to them keep getting taken down, so coolability factor? I don't know, but some of them I had to remaster like Steam Tunnels 99 because the bass was super out of phase)

And by cool I mean legal, because I also have a remaster of Campfire Songs where some mild alteration to the tone & stereo width, added high frequencies (apparently Minidiscs cap of freqs around 16-18khz so I tried to fill the gap above that with sympathetic harmonics), fixed clipping distortions, reduced noise by like 1.5db and a bit more in very select places, as well as possibly anachronistic changes like reducing the sound of incidental clicks and pops made during the performance during very quiet moments. Just my preferences as a hugely picky audio engineer.

As well as Hollindagain where I did much of the same things, but also reduced amp hum and did more work to improve the overall dynamic range.

Weirdly enough, with Jane's discography both Berserk and Coconuts had the right channels out of phase (simple mixing board mistake), and that was about all I fixed about that.

Red Light Water Show is massively underrated

I mean sooooo this is the best live era ever huh. Like whether that includes the '18 music box shows, the fall '19 shows, the September '21 and/or Blast radio drops, this shit is the most listenable and hype and like uniformly excellent bootlegs I've heard

been ripping hunswithguns Asheville, compared to Lexington and the Blast radio and its just like holy fuck. Every single song is kind amazing

The stretch in Asheville from Gem & I to Defeat and then Cherokee, I mean that's just nuts. Magicians in Cincinnati the next night is insane. I love PW era too, but this is a new kinda great, in a different kinda way

I think this is literally best ever (not as well versed on pre-mpp boots so I'm biased), but it feels like

this era is best > then, MPP '07-09 ----> then, honestly, PW era, I loved it, and saw it personally more than others (4 nights, beginning and middle stretch + those band camp boots) ------> then Feels/SJ (05/06), then from there you either prefer Sung Tongs or Danse/Ark era shows, which kudos. Or you like the Best Of vibe of the CHZ shows, esp as seen on 9:30 boot

I just really vibing with these recordings lately... maybe cuz of album-in-3-months hype but just on their own they're all incredibly, and jammy and crunchy. Love soooooo many tracks from this era (all?)

Absolutely no chance, but I'm glad you're enjoying it.

absolutely fair

I came in during middle-period AC so I don't know the glory of slavishly devouring early SJ/MPP tracks or worshiping Crack Box era songs or like Other Music vibes (did jump on bandwagon for like '09 boots but I missed years of that era). I mean it's all sick af dont get me wrong.... but my first new bootlegs were like Early Chz shows that wasn't already me going back into the archive, so I think that's a bit part of it

there's some dragon ball energy back that I feel they haven't hit the level of since like SJ/MPP era is why I say it. I mean the quality and vibe is so strong that it is causing me to re-evaluate and love-more CHZ/PW, esp cuz it lead to this, but there's something kinda refreshing about the way they're writing.

feel like they're writing collaboratively together again better than ever. All 3 writers have some of their best songs ever and they seem to be conceptually/procedurally more open minded than they have in a way. I think Avey at one point thought electric bass didn't fit with AC's sound, but them doing this jazzier, jammier, riffier shit feels more crazy and out of the box than all of them on mogs and buchlas and hocketing did.

idk man. I love all their modes so much, so somehow they'll be able to top this for me next era, but I especially like the pretty uniform instrumental approach to each song. Deak's keys own, Geo is owning a lot (And I believe also doing a fair bit of "keys"), Avey writing and bass hella consistent and panda's drums and melodies/structures are more lit than ever maybe in-band at least

Red Light Water Show is massively underrated

Avey's little "WOO!" in that is everything

there's some dragon ball energy back that I feel they haven't hit the level of since like SJ/MPP era is why I say it. I mean the quality and vibe is so strong that it is causing me to re-evaluate and love-more CHZ/PW, esp cuz it lead to this, but there's something kinda refreshing about the way they're writing.

feel like they're writing collaboratively together again better than ever. All 3 writers have some of their best songs ever and they seem to be conceptually/procedurally more open minded than they have in a way. I think Avey at one point thought electric bass didn't fit with AC's sound, but them doing this jazzier, jammier, riffier shit feels more crazy and out of the box than all of them on mogs and buchlas and hocketing did.

I completely agree with this, on the other hand.

I really really love Deak's songwriting, playing and vocals here. His contributions are some of my favourite parts of the whole set and set-up. While his guitar work on the likes of Feels and SJ is essential to their rich, unique sounds, this feels like the first time he's equally front and centre. I think his melodic and compositional sensibilities are all over the new songs. It feels like the start of a new era in that respect. There's an 'epic', weighty quality to his songwriting and delivery that they've rarely touched on before and it really, really suits them. Imagine a full band version of Good House...

+1 to all of that ^^^

Deakin is super talented and the grounding force of AC. Would love to hear more from him, solo or otherwise. If you're still here, I appreciate you Josh!

I have been on a solid AC run ever since the album was announced. Listened to probably 80% AC stuff, 20% everything else. This band has been my favourite for about 16 years and still just keeps on giving.

Agreed brother. Blast radio = BBC radio of old for the next generation

2005-2007 AC live will always be my favorite iteration of the band...06 SJ songs and 07 MPP songs taking the cake for most mind-blowing experiences and "this is the best music i've ever heard" feelings.

incredible trajectory...2000s AC is unmatched, from Spirit to FBK, the most inspirational run of music in the history of music (yes, beating out 60s Beatles or 70s Bowie), but their 2010s run was such a satisfying odd-ball mish-mash sequel of a decade that gave us amazing side and solo projects as well as two "big" albums... their third decade as the Greatest Band of All Time is starting out realllllllll hot

so true. it is mindblowing... or blindmowing even.

i think Ark through to MPP is the greatest and most original album run in music history.

but yeh, they've just never stopped making great albums. the last decade has been really entertaining in its own way. so many interesting projects.

Time Skiffs definitely feels like the start of another 'golden age' of studio work as a full band though. The songs just have that idiosyncratic, quintessential energy and vibe and 'collective' feeling that the run of albums I previously mentioned have. Where CHz and PW were great listens with some great songs, this new batch just feels more 'classic' to me.

i think Ark through to MPP is the greatest and most original album run in music history.

Yeeees, I feel like a lot of people consider Sung Tongs thru MPP to be their golden age, but Ark is really where the magic started in terms of their studio output. That album is equally as good as the 4 that followed it (in fact I think I may like it more than Sung Tongs depending on the day).

Not that I feel like Ark often gets counted out around these parts, but in general I feel like it gets left out too often when people talk about their legendary 2000s run.

It was kinda Ark and ST in tandem that really sold me on the band.

Ark was the first album of theirs I heard and it was an absolute mind fuck for me at the time. I don't think I was ready!

Then when ST came out I heard it and loved it. Then went back to Ark and started to unpick its brilliance.

Got to laugh at the sheer gravitas of what's being said here but I am absolutely here for it

Ha! That's why we're here right?!

I mean it though! Who beats that run?!

There are so few bands I can think of that pull off the trick of minorly (and sometimes majorly) reinventing themselves each album cycle as well as AC.

Five album runs that might come close-ish to being as creative, unique and varied as ACs golden age:

Flaming Lips: Transmissions, Clouds, Zaireeka, Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi (probably the biggest contender for me)

The Beatles: Rubber Soul,. Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Magical Mystery, White Album (high quality but nowhere near the originality and progression of sound)

Radiohead: Bends, OKC, Kid A, Amnesiac, HTTT (can't really match AC for the level of progression and quality across all five albums)

Bowie: any 5 album run in the 70s is ruined by Pin Ups and Young Americans

Björk: Post, Homogenic, Vespertine, Medúlla then let down by Volta (could Selma Songs count?)

A few others have managed 3 or 4 albums of brilliance in a row, but again, never 5 with the sheer level of progression and unique sounds that AC managed (Talking Heads, Caribou, Pavement, Boards of Canada to name a couple).

Others have had one off albums (maybe with a pretty great album/recording either before or after) but never a whole consecutive string of them like AC did (Alice Coltrane, Beach Boys, Autechre, Kate Bush, Madvillain, My Bloody Valentine, Microphones, Sigur Rós, Stars of the Lid, Talk Talk, Boredoms, Steve Reich)


Prove me wrong!

All I will say is justice for Volta. It's a great record.

solid 4 star album that i really enjoy (much like CHz) but not god-tier career peak that blows my freaking mind every time

i'm here for all of that, foxtrot!!!

but, i'm the biggest Danse Manatee apologist around. i think it is legitimately top-tier AC: their most primal and instinctual album -- one of the most atmospheric fantastical albums to "get-lost-in" that i can think of... this is gonna sound pretentious but i didn't "get it" until i heard it on vinyl. i bet it sounds even better on CD.

so when you say the greatest run of all time begins at Ark, i wanna say "no-no-no!!! it begins at Danse!" of course, others will say Spirit. i like Spirit, but it flashes potential more than realizes it half the time. Danse is the first time they nailed it, and then they continued to do so for the rest of the decade...

thing is i'm so deeply crushing on AC it doesn't even seem outlandish at all for me to say they had the greatest decade of music of all time. it seems so deeply real and true and without question.

Five album runs that might come close-ish to being as creative, unique and varied as ACs golden age:

Flaming Lips: Transmissions, Clouds, Zaireeka, Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi (probably the biggest contender for me)

The Beatles: Rubber Soul,. Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Magical Mystery, White Album (high quality but nowhere near the originality and progression of sound)

Radiohead: Bends, OKC, Kid A, Amnesiac, HTTT (can't really match AC for the level of progression and quality across all five albums)

Bowie: any 5 album run in the 70s is ruined by Pin Ups and Young Americans

Björk: Post, Homogenic, Vespertine, Medúlla then let down by Volta (could Selma Songs count?)

A few others have managed 3 or 4 albums of brilliance in a row, but again, never 5 with the sheer level of progression and unique sounds that AC managed (Talking Heads, Caribou, Pavement, Boards of Canada to name a couple).

Others have had one off albums (maybe with a pretty great album/recording either before or after) but never a whole consecutive string of them like AC did (Alice Coltrane, Beach Boys, Autechre, Kate Bush, Madvillain, My Bloody Valentine, Microphones, Sigur Rós, Stars of the Lid, Talk Talk, Boredoms, Steve Reich)


Prove me wrong!

XTC in my opinion do, not only do they have a straight 4 album run ,(Skylarking [With Dukes of Stratosphear before and after]->Oranges and Lemons -> Nonsuch-> Apple Venus which are all amazing) but Drums and Wires->Black Sea-> English Settlement then after Mummer and Big Express (which are both very good but not up there to the same level, I'd put White Music and Wasp Star here too). I recommend people checking them out, especially their later stuff and Dukes of Stratosphear if you haven't

Aesop Rock is also getting there too, Impossible Kid, Malibu Ken, Spirit World Field Guide, and now Garbology are seeming to all be of very top notch quality. BTW Garbology is amazing

Fuckin love XTC.

love XTC as well, that's a good call. but also:

Deerhoof: Reveille -> Apple O -> Milk Man -> Runners Four -> Friend Opportunity -> Offend Maggie

I could even keep going with them but you get the idea

and then Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels -> Treasure -> Victorialand -> Blue Bell Knoll -> Heaven Or Las Vegas (though HOH is maybe slightly beneath the others)

Animal collective did and do it fucking different. Nuff said

SLLAAAAYYEERRRRRRRRR

Five album runs that might come close-ish to being as creative, unique and varied as ACs golden age:

Flaming Lips: Transmissions, Clouds, Zaireeka, Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi (probably the biggest contender for me)

The Beatles: Rubber Soul,. Revolver, Sgt Peppers, Magical Mystery, White Album (high quality but nowhere near the originality and progression of sound)

Radiohead: Bends, OKC, Kid A, Amnesiac, HTTT (can't really match AC for the level of progression and quality across all five albums)

Bowie: any 5 album run in the 70s is ruined by Pin Ups and Young Americans

Björk: Post, Homogenic, Vespertine, Medúlla then let down by Volta (could Selma Songs count?)

A few others have managed 3 or 4 albums of brilliance in a row, but again, never 5 with the sheer level of progression and unique sounds that AC managed (Talking Heads, Caribou, Pavement, Boards of Canada to name a couple).

Others have had one off albums (maybe with a pretty great album/recording either before or after) but never a whole consecutive string of them like AC did (Alice Coltrane, Beach Boys, Autechre, Kate Bush, Madvillain, My Bloody Valentine, Microphones, Sigur Rós, Stars of the Lid, Talk Talk, Boredoms, Steve Reich)


Prove me wrong!

Xiu Xiu. Knife Play, A Promise, Fabulous Muscles, La Foret, The Air Force... Angel Guts: Red Classroom, Plays the Music of Twin Peaks, FORGET, Girl with Basket of Fruit, OH NO.

Twice.

For me XTC, Deerhoof and Cocteau Twins all make solid albums but nowhere near the innovation/reinvention of AC.

Xiu Xiu fall under ‘respect more than I enjoy’ for me