I'm not sure [i]why[/i] I like it but I can say that I approach it without expectation. I don't think; I turn off my mind and let it happen.

He obviously wasn't trying to make history on this record but it's still good music. I would recommend that you don't look for something to like about it or compare it to anything.

And maybe you just don't like it.

[quote="rockman240"]I would recommend that you don't look for something to like about it or compare it to anything.[/quote]

That quote should totally be used for a promo ad for Rutile. Stop thinking about your taste in music and just buy the damn thing!

I'm pretty sure that's not what he's saying. I think he's advocating looking at each work in and of itself and deciding how you feel about it rather than comparing it to other pieces as your basis for quality. Just listen to it, and either like it or don't, but don't go in with presumed expectations of what you should be hearing.

Personally, I think there are a lot of good song ideas going on, but not the best mixing, and a real lack of complex harmonic layering that would make the songs sound full..

[quote="Marekenshin"]I'm pretty sure that's not what he's saying. I think he's advocating looking at each work in and of itself and deciding how you feel about it rather than comparing it to other pieces as your basis for quality. Just listen to it, and either like it or don't, but don't go in with presumed expectations of what you should be hearing.

Personally, I think there are a lot of good song ideas going on, but not the best mixing, and a real lack of complex harmonic layering that would make the songs sound full..[/quote]

I just don't buy the idea that you can, like turning off a lightbulb, suddenly de-contextualize your interpretation and reaction to music (or anything for that matter). When we hear music, we automatically hear it in relation to other music. People aren't dismissing Rutile because it sounds like porn/tech demo music and it's uncool to like porn/tech demo music, but because porn/tech demo music is unappealing sonically. I don't think anyone said "WELL IS IT AS GOOD AS HAPPY BIVOUAC OR THE JOSHUA TREE?" I don't think anyone has expectations for Manabe set in stone either. He did the 80s hair thing, the British rock thing, the 90s alt thing, the jazzy pop thing, the tone-sucked Sago thing, and now this. I don't think any of us here are going to "come back" to Rutile in a few months, rediscovering that this album was actually worth listening to again, as you one would with good music.

If I listen to something and decide I don't like it, I'm not going to try to trick myself into forgetting that I don't like it. The only time I did that was when I dumped School Girl Distortional Addict and then redownloaded it again because pretty much EVERYONE was hailing Number Girl as the second coming of Christ. SGDA was too abrasive and new to me at the time - I hadn't heard anything like it, I didn't know what I wanted to be listening for it, it wasn't familiar. Rutile, despite sounding like things I don't like, is kind of the opposite. It sounds [b]completely predictable, contrived, boring, overproduced, insincere, synthetic.[/b] I know where the riffs are going. There is no nuance to the chord changes, no lingering, no space, no visceral anything. It's like a rock soap opera.

This is the music you hear playing in the background at a department store.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]It sounds [b]completely predictable, contrived, boring, overproduced, insincere, synthetic.[/b] I know where the riffs are going. There is no nuance to the chord changes, no lingering, no space, no visceral anything. It's like a rock soap opera.[/quote]

I demand a formal apology for my prediction of this album [i]literally[/i] being crucified earlier in the thread.

[quote="Aplaca"]I demand a formal apology for my prediction of this album [i]literally[/i] being crucified earlier in the thread.[/quote]

Saying it's bad before hearing it is still retarded regardless of wether it ends up being true or not.[i] Literally.[/i]

Nobody's telling you to forget you don't like it, Grey, the point is just that some people can enjoy it as some decent tracks and a bunch of okay song ideas; an interesting look into Manabe's idea of songwriting. Nobody's raving about it or telling you you're wrong for not liking it.

[quote="Spike"][quote="Aplaca"]I demand a formal apology for my prediction of this album [i]literally[/i] being crucified earlier in the thread.[/quote]

Saying it's bad before hearing it is still retarded regardless of wether it ends up being true or not.[i] Literally.[/i][/quote]
Oh FFS that wasn't even a serious post

AT LEAST go back and read my posts to get some context before throwing around the word 'retarded'.

[quote="Aplaca"]Oh FFS that wasn't even a serious post [/quote]

Nothing posted on IM is serious.

[quote="GoldenRhino"][quote="rockman240"]I would recommend that you don't look for something to like about it or compare it to anything.[/quote]
That quote should totally be used for a promo ad for Rutile. Stop thinking about your taste in music and just buy the damn thing![/quote]My point was this: don't [i]try[/i] to like it. Have no expectation. And yes: [b]stop thinking about your taste in music[/b]. It's not about what you've liked in the past. Of course those things naturally influence our perspectives, but there's no need to cling to or identify with abstraction.

Focus your entire awareness on the music and you can experience it as directly as possible. You might get a better sense of what the artist was trying to communicate, instead of what you are projecting. Don't think about anything but the sound you are hearing at this very instant (I realize this is probably difficult for most people brought up in our culture).

[quote="GoldenRhino"]I just don't buy the idea that you can, like turning off a lightbulb, suddenly de-contextualize your interpretation and reaction to music (or anything for that matter).[/quote]Of course not. I advocate listening without labeling; just being present. Depending on one's level of awareness, one may miss the emotional message of the music by being too focused on abstraction.

You had low expectations for this album before it even came out and I don't know but I assume you were thinking about those expectations while you were listening. If the whole time you are thinking "I dislike this music because X, Y, and Z." (abstraction) then you aren't giving it a real chance. And at the end of the day, maybe you just won't enjoy it.

This conversation may have just gotten deeper than I am willing to defend further. I'm not expecting this post to be received well

I understand what you're saying, rockman. I still haven't listened to the album yet, though I downloaded. We'll see what happens.

I don't have to be a fucking zen buddhist and listen to Rutile with a pure heart and balanced chakras and meditate on the true essence of Manabe's Sago to say "Hmm. I don't like what I am hearing. I can identify these things as X, Y, and Z."

Maybe my position will make more sense to you if you know that [b]there is no benefit to me hating on Manabe's music.[/b] I'm aware I win NO points for disliking any certain music. There is no incentive for me to cook up reasons in my head Rutile might be shitty, and then casually confirm them upon listening. If anything (and I think this is the case for some here), the fact that it's Manabe playing increases the likelihood of me giving it a positive review.

I don't see what's so difficult or fishy about me listening to a favorite musician's solo record and deciding "No, this is some shit."

This thread is fucking hilarious.