Busy week! We unveiled our list of the 40 Best New Bands Of 2012. We prematurely evaluated albums from Bob Dylan, the Killers, and G.O.O.D. Music. We ranked Grizzly Bear’s best songs, Dylan’s more obscure LPs, and Pavement’s discography. And, of course, we took sides on the Albini Vs. Palmer beef. Let’s see what you had to say about it all…
THIS WEEK’S 10 HIGHEST RATED COMMENTS
| #10 |
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Kevin Broydrick | Sep 10th | Score:22 |
| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #9 |
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Simon Chapman | Sep 10th | Score:23 |
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You literally never listened to an album because of hype? Seriously?b |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #8 |
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Heath D. Williams | Sep 13th | Score:24 |
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You did it, Stereogum! You included the band’s actual best song on your “Best Songs” list! |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear’s 10 Best Songs | |||
| #7 |
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Peter Helman | Sep 10th | Score:25 |
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If you’re intentionally not listening to an album solely because of hype, isn’t that letting others’ opinions influence your own just as much (if not more)? |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #6 |  |
crania americana | Sep 13th | Score:26 |
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wtf no skinny love? JUST KIDDING, I know that’s actually by fleet foxes. lol right. |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear’s 10 Best Songs | |||
| #5 |  |
donnytilla | Sep 10th | Score:26 |
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GREAT album. It feels much more consistent than past output. I’m guilty of often skipping some of the tracks on veckitamest for the top shelf jams (i.e., two weeks, ready able, cheerleader, while you wait) – some of the other tracks on that bitty can lag a bit if I’m casually listening, although I do enjoy them. I don’t know if this is due to the experimentation on veck’s (<— short form) other tracks, which clearly deviate from the shit you know your mom would like. HOWEVER, I feel like everything is much more cohesive on this album. Whereas something like “Dory” slams the breaks and puts you through the windshield, I put shields on and know that I’m in for a consistent pantaloon jazzing, without skipping anything to keep the momentum going. And the back third is just such a goddamn treat. what a solid finish (sun in your eyes O. M. G.). I didn’t expect this tone of album from da boys but I’ll be damned if it ain’t just a gem of a lil heart. Favourite moments stem from little things – the wizzing slam at 2:45 of Sleeping Ute, the killer rasp in Ed’s voice on Speak in Rounds (stevie nicksesque??!?! uh, yes pls), the interplay between eddy and danny’s vocals throughout. Also, Sun in Your Eyes is the most beautiful thing I’ve heard this year. It feels special and no one else could have done it. Everything is just more consistent (Droste, 2012) and it makes the overall piece so much better. Thx to da bears for this one. I will be supporting my local record shop ;) ;) ;) ;) |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #4 |  |
JaggerT | Sep 10th | Score:28 |
| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #3 |  |
Michael Nelson | Sep 12th | Score:29 |
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I should probably disclose that I’m actually a big fan of Apple products to the point of being a low-level Apple snob. But I’m deeply frustrated by the way in which they have marginalized music on their music-playing devices. (It reminds me very much, in fact, of the way MTV marginalized music as a part of their programming as they saw increased revenues in more structured programs.) Realistically the profit margin in MP3 players is dwindling rapidly, but as a music lover with a vast library, I want a product that suits my needs (which Apple seems to have lost interest in producing). Can’t blame ‘em for focusing on the bottom line, I just hope a suitable alternative eventually finds its way to market. |
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| Posted in: Apple Announces New iPods, iTunes, Less-Shitty Earbuds | |||
| #2 |  |
rubberjohnny0829 | Sep 10th | Score:29 |
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you probably loved them until pitchfork gave them mediocre reviews. just like if they give this one a bad review, you’ll hate it too. think for yourself people! |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
| #1 |
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Jeff Miller | Sep 13th | Score:34 |
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colorado |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear’s 10 Best Songs | |||
THIS WEEK’S 5 LOWEST RATED COMMENTS
| #5 |
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John Novak | Sep 11th | Score:-9 |
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Wow! It seems that Bob ripped off the melody of “”Soon After Midnight”" from Bobby Fuller and Mary Stone’s, “New Shade of Blue”. Check it out and compare. |
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| Posted in: Premature Evaluation: Bob Dylan Tempest | |||
| #4 |
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Nick Burica | Sep 13th | Score:-10 |
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I refuse to live in a world where Knife isn’t #2 and Two Weeks isn’t #1. |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear’s 10 Best Songs | |||
| #3 |
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Yoni Izhaky Rapaport | Sep 13th | Score:-12 |
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fuck this band. |
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| Posted in: Premature Evaluation: The Killers Battle Born | |||
| #2 |
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Steven Snead | Sep 13th | Score:-16 |
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Swing Lo was amazing This leads me to believe you’re crazy. Battle Born is the worst type of shit I actively avoid because it’s actually uninspired drivel. |
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| Posted in: Premature Evaluation: The Killers Battle Born | |||
| #1 |  |
cale | Sep 10th | Score:-17 |
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You guys are all nuts. This album is terrible. More boring than even Veckatimest. But at least that record had songs like Cheerleader and About Face. I don’t like a single song on this record. To be fair I only really liked Horn Of Plenty. Yellow House and Veckatimest, were to boring and included to many bad Daniel Rossen songs. But on this one it seems Droste is just as terrible as Rossen usually is. Gimme Swans or Merchandise over this. This might even be worse than that Bon Iver Record from last year which I also hated as well. Hopefully Pitchfork will pan this record so we can be done with them. Sites like Tiny Mix Tapes will definitely hate this album, but I guess thats to be expected. Actually Half Gate is good though. So one good song on the entire record. |
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| Posted in: Grizzly Bear Shields Comment Party | |||
THIS WEEK’S EDITOR’S CHOICE (SCOTT)
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Josh Reichental | Sep 12th | Score:2 | |
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Thank you for this list Stereogum. It’s both overwhelming and comforting that there is so much good music out there. |
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| Posted in: Stereogum’s 40 Best New Bands Of 2012 | |||
[Amrit's out today! Let's just assume he loves all your comments.]
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I’m not particularly witty or incisive – BUT I do love to see my name at the top of lists.
SO – I’m asking professional-ish Stereogummers to upvote all my comments.
In return you will receive my gratitude for 1 week – or if you live locally; meth and blow jobs
Uhhhh OBVIOUSLY a deal. I’ll pay for the flight too to waive that “locally” clause ;) ;) ;)
I pray godsdog & I live locally…
I’ll do it for blow jobs only!
i always had a sneaking suspicion godsdog was Amanda Palmer.
This reference is probably still too topical to be considered “cool” on Stereogum. I really enjoyed it though!
is this the blowjob line?
if i don’t want meth do i still get a blowjob? or is this eat your vegetables or no dessert kinda deal?
trust me, you’re gonna want some meth for this.
The waiting list for the line for the waiting list for the line, baby.
I’m so used to GIVING blow jobs for meth. I get both?!?!
I fucked up big time.
yay Amrit loves me
Literally just finished listening to Shields for my first time. My gold vinyl pre-order came in today so… kind of like an old school leak!
First off: NOT Album of the Year.
Secondly: Wow! There are some good songs on here. I’m going to be that guy that brings up the however many seconds interlude “Adelma” because IT IS BEAUTIFUL and I’m pretty sure Grizzly Bear have never done an interlude on their previous albums. Pretty sure. Love “Adelma”
“A Simple Answer” was the mid-album track that really jumped out at me. Daniel driving the vocals and Ed jumping in near the end. Really love it when those two tackle a track together, ESPECIALLY on “Sun In Your Eyes” (one of the best closing tracks if not for “Colorado” and “Foreground” — those boys know how to end albums!). Should be noted that “Sun In Your Eyes” is the ONLY track on the D side of the vinyl. Got to love it when songs get their own side of a record.
D-Titties was very correct on the cohesiveness of this album. No songs that derail this train. Seemed like a lengthy album but my listening session went by quickly.
It was lots of fun listening and reading the lyrics as it ticked along. Sitting down with an album and perusing the album artwork and liner notes HAS to be the best way to digest an album. Total immersion.
Big up to Daniel Rossen and Chris Taylor. Based on the liner notes, those two were the strongest forces on this album. Always love it when a band member produces their own album.
Overall, one of the better records of this year. I can’t say just yet if there is anything on here better than “Two Weeks”, “Knife”, “While You Wait for the Others” or any other Grizzly Bear classic… but IT IS a terrific album top to bottom and may actually be a better ALBUM listen than Yellow House. That’s saying a lot coming from me – I love Yellow House.
tl;dr Shields is great. Buy it on Tuesday.
Analyzing from afar, I now see that you are everything I intended to become on here but did not.
Keep writing the good write, as I take my place amongst the damned and soon-to-be-forgotten.
Every Taylor Swift needs a Kanye West ;)
there’s room for everyone in Don Titties papoose.
I’ve only listened to it a couple of times but I’d already say “Yet Again” is a Pavement classic.
Pavement? WTF? Just come from the Pavement albums page, meant Grizzly Bear obviously.
what happened to album and mixtape of the week?
Guess they didn’t provide enough comment bait.
We skipped this week, but they’ll be back next week!
Making this list, in any area. is a joy. I’m proud of myself. I’m going to go erupt on a Killer’s fanboy board to celebrate.
Nelson tripping up the Grizzly Bear sweep. So close….
If I was an asshole who put hashtags on things not twitter this comment would read something like this
rubjohn #robbed
It’s so weird, I still remember a few months ago when he was a regular on the Lowest Rated Comments, but now he’s in the highest rated every week he comments.
from hated troll to cult/folk hero. what a journey it’s been. you can read about it in my memoir, titled “WTF? lol. gay.”
To quoth the great Freddie Gibbs, “i’m about to #robb me a nigga”.
Are we sure this is the original Rubberjohnny,and not an imitator? I thought the number at the end was 0829? It’s like Blade Runner, can the copy be better than the real thing. :O
Probably a faker. The original one’s profile pic had bangs that covered a quarter of his brow; not 3 quarters of it.
Fake Rubberjohnnys, that’s that shit I don’t like
fake? come on, pleb. i’m real as the sun!
0829 = the original.
0839 = piece of shit who is trying to soil my good name on these boards.
Yo Stereogum, what’s with all the lists these days?
Sincerely,
A reader
Also what’s with that Amanda Palmer huh? Jeez.
Big Sean has an answer for you, by way of Kanye West:
“Clique, clique, clique, clique, clique”
“ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS ASS DO IT” – a genius
Commenting on comments? Pure jack-assery (excluding my comment, lol). Would love to kick the “Shut Up, Dude” in the nuts.
Unfortunately you’re gettin a nut kick instead. BOOM! Sorry bitch!
Stereogum has entered a dark place where nearly every article is a numbered list of which albums of a band were the best or something like that. I feel like I have something snarky or witty to say about that, but I really don’t. This website no longer focuses on informing its audience; everything has become a way meant to make money.
Er, “a way to make money”, that is.
It’s never a bad idea to pay attention to the business-side of all these websites we love to read so you know why you’re reading what you’re reading, and you’re probably right with your last line — It’s become very apparent on here that the focus is on money / click-thru / traffic-driven content rather than quality-driven original thoughtpiece content. In the past year, BUZZMEDIA, Inc. (the company who owns Stereogum) has built themselves an empire by pretty much monopolizing the market. They’ve recently bought out SPIN (and last I heard, they were going to take the print publication out back and shoot it,) PunkNews.org and also hold Gorilla vs. Bear, Brooklyn Vegan, RCRD LBL and Absolute Punk as assets. I imagine they can’t have all these websites doing the same exact thing content-wise and thus, competing against themselves and neutralizing their purpose, so Stereogum looks like it has had to evolve into a website that invites a lot of discussion between its readers, so hence list after list or op-ed pieces on new albums at best.
There was also a very interesting article that came out this week about how Prefix Mag has pulled an Amanda Palmer and taken to Craigslist to lure professional writers into their website to write posts for free because they can’t afford to pay them (http://noisey.vice.com/blog/prefix-mag-cant-afford-to-pay-their-music-writers.) I don’t know how Stereogum (or BUZZMEDIA, more specifically) operates, but every time I click on an article, I don’t even recognize the by-line. Not accusing them of doing the same, but I imagine that paying freelancers saves them a lot of money and provides them with more traffic-driven content than just having four or five staff writers pull the train all by themselves.
While business is an evil urchin, I do think that it’s evident on both the gum and G vs. B when the author doesn’t give a fuck about a particular song/artist. Both sites seem to either present something as it is “here it is, fuck it” or go into detail and praise “omg this is a FACKIN beaut here boys, make sure you DL dis” and I notice and appreciate the latter.
Obvs it would be better if each posting was true to the authors heart but that ain’t always possible in a world with dolla dolla bills and younglings mouths to feed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SqTR0DorSw
Feed those younglings.
“younglings money” – lil kenobi F Babyoungling