Reply to topic  [ 271 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 ... 19  Next
New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release 
Author Message
moderator
moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:28 pm
Posts: 12301
Location: Lost Angels
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="Mafu"]The album just got uploaded on the net for the first time and you are the only one who sounds like he is complaining (and maybe you don't mean to, but it comes off like that). There's a time and place to post your personal opinion on lossless music, and it isn't immediately after someone posts the new album.

But anyway... I don't mean to derail this thread. I hope you're all enjoying Stroll and Roll as much as I am. :wub:
Now back to listening to Tabasco Dis-- Rock'n'Roll to Taiyou.[/quote]

I think there may be an incorrect assumption of the intention of negativity here, seems like he's just talking on a side-topic about file size. I definitely saw the tone of his post as a little snide on first pass as well, but at a second read that eye-roll emoticon really isn't even that negative. It smiles at the end, I've definitely seen it used in lighthearted fashion around here before. They sorted it out nicely, seems all is well and no reason to lecture any further here, though I do agree that if it hadn't steered into friendly discussion quickly it would have been pretty lame.

I'll be honest, I'm with you 100% on your point about the over-negativity and such as well, I just think that this particular subforum is a place where we'll try to steer things back to calm discussion whenever it seems like it's going there.

========================

I don't think the album's a "radical shift," sorry if it came across that way. I think it's a big step up and off to the side just a hair. Badass rock, made more badass. The culmination of the past 7ish years of pillows into one really, truly great album that most people are going to find themselves putting up there with solid/great albums like, as Mafu noted, Smile and My Foot.

I'm really, really liking it, without my previous production complaints (relatively; still not as carefully and gently layered as I know they COULD get, but there's a lot of cool sounds going on across the album and again all dat variety).

=======================

Meta-topic: FLAC is useful because, as people have noted, artifacts build over time. Use lossless all day erryday and minimize this as you distribute copies. It's like having a personal version of something closer to the master recording on your own hard drive. Or at least, as close as you can get in the current system we distribute recordings in. Just convert it upon d/l if you don't want it in FLAC. ;)

_________________
I'm animal


Wed Apr 06, 2016 11:32 pm
Profile WWW
stalker
stalker
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:42 am
Posts: 919
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Thank you so much sittingduck! :shred:

_________________
Someday, gonna be a real flower..
[quote="MrkJulio"]Sex isn't as a big of a deal as it use to be. I'm trying to focus on other things rather than just sex. [/quote]


Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:03 am
Profile
...don't give a fuck
...don't give a fuck
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:20 am
Posts: 5745
Location: vancouver
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Thanks, Mare.

Will post a little review later today or tomorrow, will try to not be a dick. And I *do* have something nice to say: spoiler, it's about subtropical fantasy.

_________________
-


Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:10 am
Profile
moderator
moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:28 pm
Posts: 12301
Location: Lost Angels
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Subtropical Fantasy is like all of the best things about Ooparts (Johnny Strobe done chiller, anyone?) done besterer. And then some. :shred:

_________________
I'm animal


Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:30 pm
Profile WWW
rookie jet
rookie jet
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:20 pm
Posts: 204
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="Marekenshin"]Subtropical Fantasy is like all of the best things about Ooparts (Johnny Strobe done chiller, anyone?) done besterer. And then some. :shred:[/quote]
Huh, that's not a comparison that comes to mind for me at all. (Johnny Strobe is a good tune though!)

_________________
WE EXCITE FOR PROBE LAND ON COMET, THIS IS NEW SONG "COMET SONNET"!!


Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:52 pm
Profile WWW
tiny buster
tiny buster
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 7:41 pm
Posts: 36
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Subtropical Fantasy is great.
what sittingduck said:
[quote="sittingduck"]
btw did anyone else instantly think of "today, she" when they heard the start of Subtropical Fantasy?[/quote]
is spot on. I honestly hear that vibe throughout the whole song.


Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:34 pm
Profile
premium buster
premium buster
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:31 pm
Posts: 1202
Location: penalty field
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Subtropical Fantasy.

_________________
with singing...
in amusement...
have a weapon
bang, bang, bang


Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:20 pm
Profile
moderator
moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:28 pm
Posts: 12301
Location: Lost Angels
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="sl4"][quote="Marekenshin"]Subtropical Fantasy is like all of the best things about Ooparts (Johnny Strobe done chiller, anyone?) done besterer. And then some. :shred:[/quote]
Huh, that's not a comparison that comes to mind for me at all. (Johnny Strobe is a good tune though!)[/quote]

It's the whole "big punchy rhythm for the chorus" thing that's reminiscent for me. Melodically, nah. Rhythmically, even, not really tons of overlap, but that crash beat oj the chorus is the same general idea in a different context.

Either way... :shred: :shred: :shred:

Edit: also, I do see the Kanojo wa kyou similarity in the intro/verse. It has the same bum...ba bum, bum...ba bum thing going on.


Double edit: Man, I'm loving the lyrics to Elliott's Tragedy. My CD is waiting at home, might get started on some lyricing this week.

_________________
I'm animal


Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:27 pm
Profile WWW
contact admin for a custom title
contact admin for a custom title
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:05 pm
Posts: 1845
Location: New York
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Alright, well here's my review from a listener who really enjoyed Trial, but other than that hasn't REALLY liked an album in the past decade. (Just providing context here, not trying to start anything).

Interestingly enough, as it would seem, my interest waning directly coincided with their move to Avex...coincidence? Perhaps.

Now, they've released their first album without Avex, and I have to say, I'm happy with it.

After two listens (one on the way to work and one on the way back), here are my thoughts.

Debris....probably my most liked [i]previously released[/i] track. It's fun, but even so, it didn't have me overly excited for the album's release...it's a solid track though, probably on par with the best of Moondust (and it's not the strongest on the album, so that's already a step up!) It has a familiarly mundane intro, with the fuzzed out kind of sub octave-y lead guitar line. Reminiscent of their work of recent years. The verse is pleasing though, and while the chorus I think could be more interesting, it works. Overall, on an independent scale (meaning I'm not rating it against their previous work), I'd give it a 7/10.

One Flew Under....another previously released track. It's aight, but wouldn't be my first choice as the leading single off the album, personally...the vibe is good, but it's just mediocre overall to me. Nothing amazing happening. The same old octave lead lines, a la Boat House, etc. The chorus is nice, and it's not a "skip" song, but not one, as of now, that I'd go back to on my own accord. It's not bad, just nothing special. I'd give it a 6/10.

I RIOT....this was the one I anticipated liking least, based on name alone, and it hit that mark. It's got the air of a terrible Sawao solo song, name-wise. As for the actual song, the sirens are pretty annoying (and listening to it walking through the city made it moreso). I dig the old-school rock and roll vibe they're shooting for, as mentioned above, I can see Sawao holding his mic and playing frontman with this one. It's fun, but not something I'd choose to listen to. Weakest on the album for me, 4.5/10

The Sun and Rock and Roll....this is where the album picked up for me. The vocal melody instantly perked my ears up, and I had fun with this one. The chorus is solid as well. The instrumentation isn't anything special, but I like the song. The solo is fun as well. I give it a 7/10

Subtropical Fantasy....as I can tell, this is the crowd pleaser, so going into it, I was already interested, but when it came on (it was in my pocket), I wasn't sure which it was, just that I really liked it. It definitely is my favorite on the album. The chorus has a strong classic pillows vibe that I am really happy with. I definitely get the Kanojo wa Kyou vibes people are getting. But just on it's own I really dig it, the pre-chorus+chorus is a winner. 9/10

Tragedy....After the high I was on from the previous song, I was hoping the next one would be great as well. I like it...the guitar is fun and overall I dig the vocal melody in the verses. The chorus is catchy as well...I'd give it a 7/10

Blagodarnost....I really like the feel of this track, the way the guitar line interweaves with the drums is really pleasing. I feel like a smidge of vibrato or light trem could do wonders I think. It would make it a tad ethereal...I like the chorus a lot as well, harks back to Sayonara Universe to me. And the smooth, reverby guitar solo that reminds me of like November Rain or some shit is fun. Great song...8/10

Radiotelegraphy.....this song is catchy. I like the vibe, the chorus being my favorite part. Solid pop-rock track...7.5/10

Stroll and Roll...."that cowboy sound" that GR refers to is strong here. It's got a bluesy, old school rock feel that's fun, but it's just another one of those songs for me, like all the other ones Flashback Story, Prairie Rider, etc. Not my favorite...6/10

Locomotion....I dig the guitar tone here, right off the bat, but as a whole, the song is meh. It's that classic, fun, filler staple at the end of the album. Surprised it's not in English, but I guess the chorus is enough...again, not a fan...5/10

So that's the album. Overall, I am very pleased, as the best of the album is REALLY good. After this album, I hope they NEVER go back to Avex or an other pop-based label, and to support this, I will be buying the album next week. I'm not entirely sure yet if I like it more than Trial. Definitely not as much as My Foot, but definitely more than OOPARTS, Horn Again, and Moondust. There's a strong undercurrent harking back to that old-school rock and roll vibe that I believe Mare or someone posted about Sawao saying he was shooting for. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But if we get more stuff like the middle of this album, I'd say 4th movement is a winner.

The bad is just ok, and the good is really good. Can't say I REALLY dislike any tracks off the album, some are weaker than others, but the good songs make up for the bad. Overall, 7.5/10.

:shred: :shred: :shred:

_________________
I wonder if I am sick
So this door will never break
I need to know more about my space
It's Penalty Life


Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:35 pm
Profile
moderator
moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:28 pm
Posts: 12301
Location: Lost Angels
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="MyFoot"] Overall, 7.5/10. I am very pleased, as the best of the album is REALLY good. After this album, I hope they NEVER go back to Avex or an other pop-based label, and to support this, I will be buying the album next week.

:shred: :shred: :shred:[/quote]

:wub:

As Mafu mentioned, now that they're indies again it means even more for people to support the music monetarily should they really enjoy it. Very glad that you both enjoyed the album and that your response was to therefore give back to the band for their efforts.

_________________
I'm animal


Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:32 pm
Profile WWW
stalker
stalker
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:46 am
Posts: 912
Location: Chiba
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Did anyone notice the cool little edit on the album cover?

If you look at the cover on the official site, Amazon, etc...
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3SgLeCs.jpg?1[/img]<----

But the actual cover...
[img]http://i.imgur.com/YEjANwi.jpg?1[/img]

The cloud has been transformed into a Busterkun. (Also, the sticker that comes with the album and ticket holder from Tower.)


Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:00 pm
Profile
premium buster
premium buster
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:23 pm
Posts: 1221
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
Got my album in today; first physical album I've bought since Pied Piper, so I'm due. it was nice getting the poster and stcker with the Limited Edition. And the Buster-kun cloud is a nice touch to the cover! I think my new favorite picture of the band is inside, with Sawao's "grumpy" fae as the three ride a bike :lol:

Another random observation about the random notes: why is Kenji listed as a "guest musician" if the only reason the pillows were not naming their bassists as full members was out of respect of Kenji? Even though it's only two songs, I was really hoping to see Kenji's name under "the pillows are..." heading.

Anyways, as far as the music, I'm only one listen in. I'm going to need several more, as I feel this album will be a grower. Nothing really reaches out and grabs me at first. The Sun an Rock'n'Roll sounds nice with an awesome riff, it's just sad it's the shortest song, but it's got a pretty sweet solo. The title track and Locomotion sounded pretty cool. But again, I have to listen more before I give some real thoughts on this album.

Other random observations...

What's with the band having songs with "sun" in the title in the 4th spot on the tracklisting? My Beautiful Sun, Lily My Sun, and now The Sun and Rock'n'Roll... just interesting.

Also, I don't know if anyone mentioned, but no Engrish songs on this record! When's the last time the band didn't have a full ENglish song on an album? PML? About time Sawao stopped butchering the English language; he sounds so much better when the majority of any given song is in his native language.


Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:30 pm
Profile
rookie jet
rookie jet
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:20 pm
Posts: 204
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="Mafu"]Did anyone notice the cool little edit on the album cover?

If you look at the cover on the official site, Amazon, etc...
[url]http://i.imgur.com/3SgLeCs.jpg?1[/url]<----

But the actual cover...
[url]http://i.imgur.com/YEjANwi.jpg?1[/url]

The cloud has been transformed into a Busterkun. (Also, the sticker that comes with the album and ticket holder from Tower.)[/quote]
That's a relief. It would've been tragic if they had forgotten [url=http://www.pirouzu.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=149949#p149949]step 4[/url] :lol:

_________________
WE EXCITE FOR PROBE LAND ON COMET, THIS IS NEW SONG "COMET SONNET"!!


Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:38 pm
Profile WWW
tiny buster
tiny buster
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:28 am
Posts: 67
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="Son Goshin"]About time Sawao stopped butchering the English language; he sounds so much better when the majority of any given song is in his native language.[/quote]
Yes! I'm really happy with the lack of "engrish" on this album.
That was until I heard The tragedy of Eliot for a 2nd time... It was ones of those "Hey I think this part might be in English?" moments. All I can understand is "I'm waiting for" and "Say goodbye". The rest is gibberish.
This is what he's actually saying.

I'm waiting for hard rain.
And I'm the end.
That's easy.
I'm waiting for hard rain.
And I'm the end.
Say good-bye.

Luckily, that's the most English lyrics on this album! A big improvement!


Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:50 pm
Profile
contact admin for a custom title
contact admin for a custom title
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:05 pm
Posts: 1845
Location: New York
Post Re: New Album: STROLL AND ROLL - April 2016 release
[quote="Son Goshin"]

What's with the band having songs with "sun" in the title in the 4th spot on the tracklisting? My Beautiful Sun, Lily My Sun, and now The Sun and Rock'n'Roll... just interesting.[/quote]

The Sun That Will Not Rise is track 5 on PL :wink:

_________________
I wonder if I am sick
So this door will never break
I need to know more about my space
It's Penalty Life


Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:01 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 271 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1 ... 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 ... 19  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 45 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.