The Official Pop and Rock Music thread

[Admiral Holdo 16]

Point taken, I shall hold off on checking it out.

NEXT QUESTION! This is going to be a little trickier.

There was a band that put out a certain type of album - four CDs, basically it was the same album but with different instruments isolated. So, one CD drums, one CD guitar, etc. I thought it was The Flaming Lips, but apparently not. Anyone have any ideas?

[Jay 46,244]

Dream Theater did that with their Black Clouds and Silver Linings CD.

[Thor 9,362]

Where do the Floyd fans here stand on The Final Cut? I like The Wall a lot, and I understand it's an extension of that sound.

The Final Cut is their worst album, and it's not even really Floyd, just Waters.

I disagree. I think it's an excellent album, especially if you love the Waters sound from THE WALL (which I do). In fact, Waters' is my favourite PF sound, followed by Gilmour's, then Wright, then Mason and then Barrett.

[Wojo 2,458]

The Final Cut is ok. I rarely listen to it, and I probably prefer the two follow-up albums sans Waters.

[Jay 46,244]

The Final Cut is ok. I rarely listen to it, and I probably prefer the two follow-up albums sans Waters.

This.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

A Momentary Lapse Of Reason is amazing. I take it back, I think Ummagumma is probably their worst album.

[Wojo 2,458]

I never listened to The Division Bell at all until I heard The Machine cover the title song from that album in concert, and now I can't get enough of that song. The rest of the album's ok, too.

AMLOR is a powerhouse album of Gilmour guitar, which is a good thing.

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

I never listened to The Division Bell at all until I heard The Machine cover the title song from that album in concert, and now I can't get enough of that song. The rest of the album's ok, too.

High Hopes is fantastic. One of my PF favourites.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,025]

"AMLOR" is, as people say, a great record, and I prefer it to "TDB", any day of the week. I like "TFC", but I don't like the way that "When The Tigers Broke Free" is grafted on to the remastered version. It truly belongs on "TW". "TFC" works well when played as a whole ("Not Now, John", excpeted), but neither "TFC", "AMLOR", or "TDB" can hold a candle to the almighty "Radio K.A.O.S. ". Superb!

[Wojo 2,458]

You've not heard Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly" until you've heard it sung by the original William Shatner.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,025]

You've not heard Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly" until you've heard it sung by the original William Shatner.

Is this a joke, Wojo? No, seriously, are you joking, or is there a recording of The Shat doing "LTF"? If so, where?

[Jay 46,244]

Youtube man, youtube!

[A24 5,156]

Uh, no.

[Ren 77]

Love Shat. (Lol) baby love Shat!

[A24 5,156]

Uh, no.

+

Last pop song that truly blew me away was Man Down by Rhianna.

[media=]

= case in point

[Quintus 6,499]

Having said that, Rhianna is literally the only R&B singer I can listen right now; a genre which is otherwise at an all time low due to gimmicky writing and even worse vocal manipulation superficiality.

[Jay 46,244]

This is the best Rhianna song

She's smoking hot in that video too

[A24 5,156]

I can't listen to her voice (that terrible voice!) nor the music. Then again, charts music has never been as bad is it is today.

In fact, scienctist have proof that charts music today is more bland than ever before.

[Quintus 6,499]

Within her range, she has a very good voice. And it's sexy as hell, the most alluring vocal out there right now as far as I'm concerned. She's able to channel her rampant sexualilty through her voice very effectively; forget the ott raunchy lyrics.

[A24 5,156]

It has nothing to do with her range (I don't care for technical ability) but with the sound of the voice itself. It's like she sings through her nose. I understand that some (a lot, I guess) people think it's sexy (in an ordinary, bad taste kind of way, I hope) but it's just not for me. Apparently, she doesn't like her own voice either. She went up one notch in my book for saying that.

Quint, do you only listen to pop music that is currently presented on the radio? I don't think I cared for commercial charts music since I became 14 or 15.

Alex

[Quintus 6,499]

I barely listen to any music at all lately other than what I hear on the car radio on the way to work. 99% of it is the worst of the worst and absolutely at an all time low, but there is still the odd gem which manages to stand out and which isn't over produced to within an inch of its life. I'd say on average I like up to three new pop songs a year. Maybe four or five if it's been an unusually good year. Bear in mind you have about ten years on me and so whilst you probably hate dance music I on the other hand enjoy it very much. Titanium was a fantastic release this year in that regard. I did a lot of clubbing and amphetamines in my twenties, so I'll probably always listen out for good dance music, but even that is nowhere near as good as it used to be.

Rihanna shouldn't so quick to knock the unique quality in her voice seeing as it has made her rich and loved by boys and girls. It's precisely that seductive timbre in her vocal which I find appealing, it turns me on at a very base level. It's sexy to me. I'm not ashamed of that at all, god no; I embrace it.

It also shouldn't be taken lightly that she's apparently surrounded herself with strong melodists. Her songs just have good tunes, which is key to grabbing my attention in the twenty minutes I have to listen.

Moving on from Rihanna, this was another quality record this year:

And speaking of Titanium, I've just stumbled upon this alternate acoustic version:

Incredibly sweet voice and seriously strong melody? Modern pop music isn't all bad, not really.

[Ren 77]

Wow Lee

Alex Clare has caught my attention with Too Close. Not many Pop songs change to half time tempo on the chorus.

[Quintus 6,499]

That song is all over the place here. I don't tend to like dubstep, but it is used to very good effect in that record.

[Ren 77]

That's a GREAT acoustic version of Titanium.

[Quintus 6,499]

It absolutely melts me. That sudden hike up to the high note is John Williams composition territory, dead serious.

Did you like Lana Del Rey's Video Games, Ren?

[Ren 77]

I completely agree with you Lee. When a pop song can be more moving as an acoustic version it's a testament to the songwriters.

Titanium is beautiful, stirs my heart. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Without the voice, it's just another dance song.

That Lana Del Ray song is great, I adore her voice, the flipping over the break in her voice is better than jewel. I think more singers need to be features that have that kind of soul dripping from their lips

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I can't stand Lana Del Rey. She sounds so bored singing.

[Jay 46,244]

I can't stand Lana Del Rey. She sounds so bored singing.

Agreed.

[Quintus 6,499]

To me she sounds like a complete bitch who doesn't give a fuck. I like that.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I finally got The Cat Empires' eponymous album and Cities from eBay, the latter which was limited to 10,000 copies. Still absent from my collection are Tapes, Breaks, And Outtakes and Live On Earth. Sucks that most of their stuff is only available in Australia.

Also got Streelight Manifesto's Keasbey Nights, Streetlight Lullabies, and 99 Songs Of A Revolution: Vol. 1, thus completing my collection of their albums.

Can't wait to go through all this unheard music from two of my favorite bands.

[Quintus 6,499]

Who directed this video?

I was somewhat taken by its photography ages ago but didn't give it any thought at the time (much like my initial take on the record itself), however having recently spent some time reappraising the music and video, I've come to the conclusion that it's the most beautifully shot new work I've seen in absolutely ages. I'm not referring to the rather cliché but suitable story narrative itself, but instead the visual composition and how the imagery is framed. The artistry in the way the parts flow into one another is quite astonishing to me and really very impressive.

Get this guy making movies like, yesterday, please.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Aside from the song being crap to my ears, the video itself is nothing special to my eyes.

These are my two favorite music videos of recent years:

[Quintus 6,499]

Yeah, but you're you. These things are expected. You wouldn't recognise a strong, classically conceived melody if it twatted you over the head. That you can't discern the quality even from the acoustic version would boggle my mind, if it were anyone but you. As for your eye for film? Lol...

Lyrical strokes and movements in photography aren't on your plane. You notice literalism.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Are you saying there's a strong melody in that song? He had a couple interesting panning shots, but nothing that hasn't been done before and better. Washed out cinematography. That was it.

[Ren 77]

Titanium is absolutely the best song on the radio right now. INCREDIBLE melody. It completely moves me. And I don't say that lightly. There are very very few songs that permeate my soul with sunshine like that melody - as for the video, it's great. It's got a depth of story, yes washed out but still subtle in assumptions

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Pity it's not film music

[Ren 77]

THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS THREAD IS FOR

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Pop music can also be film music Ren.

"I sense you have a closed mind, Captain. Closed minds have kept these

two worlds apart for centuries"

[Ren 77]

Not in my book

Film music is music created specifically for a scene in a movie. It sets the tone, moves the story along, gives insight to the character development. 99% of pop music is not written for these purposes. If its used in a movie it's either filler or source music. If it's been written specifically for the movie it's for the benefit of the latest artist usually.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Thor might disagree. I actually don't.

[Ren 77]

Bring it

[Quintus 6,499]

I don't think it's "washed out" at all; there's just very little in the way of shadow and blacks in the way it has been lit. The fact that the director conveys so much to me without a reliance on shadow I find incredibly impressive. The mood comes through just beautifully, with his palette of autumn hues and cool skin tones, accentuating the boy's frankly beautiful and seriously photogenic features, which in turn are captured just right so as to wonderfully express his fear, innocence and vulnerability.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Bring it

Would you know what to do with it?

[Ren 77]

I don't think it's "washed out" at all; there's just very little in the way of shadow and blacks in the way it has been lit. The fact that the director conveys so much to me without a reliance on shadow I find incredibly impressive. The mood comes through just beautifully, with his palette of autumn hues and cool skin tones, accentuating the boy's frankly beautiful and seriously photogenic features, which in turn are captured just right so as to wonderfully express his fear, innocence and vulnerability.

I bow before thee

Perfect description

But. I don't think it's because of the way it's lit. I think it's a filter.

[Quintus 6,499]

Yes. It's likely a combination of both.

The high contrast is too natural and pure to be soley the result of a filter.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Ripped some RAA session music off YouTube.

Love this version more than the album recording:

I always thought they used closet mix techniques to get that hollow, tiny sound they have. Turns out the drummer slaps a newspaper on top of the drums. Awesome.

Official music video of the same song. Great stuff:

[Ren 77]

I'm thinking that Karmin is quoting smells like teen spirit in her song Hello

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

Not only is the new, crowdfunded Ben Folds Five album great, it also has a fantastic video featuring.... the Fraggles!

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Anyone familiar with Sweet Thing? They put out an EP a little while back that was really great. Released a CD some time after, with some of those songs included. Turns out they really changed their sound to be more popish in that time period, but there's still some really good songs on there.

[MrJosh 1,205]

Not only is the new, crowdfunded Ben Folds Five album great, it also has a fantastic video featuring.... the Fraggles!

I'm pretty excited for the new Ben Folds Five. I decided to not listen to any samples and then tomorrow, BAM....I will listen to the whole thing