Can you recommend these albums?

[Futureman]

1. The Decemberists-Her Majesty.

I was really high on Castaways for a while, but it seemed to lose its edge quickly. I thought comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel were inaccurate, as the latter had a more interesting sound and has aged well. Is the new album any better?

2. Dead Meadow--Shivering King and Others

I like the idea of a "current" Black Sabbath/Deep Purple sound. And I kinda like the mp3s I've heard. But they all sound the same. I'm afraid that they might be a little one dimensional. I'd be happy if someone set me straight .

3. The Rapture--Echoes.

Looks promising.

[vesper]

Echoes is a great disc - my favorite of the year thus far. It's really kinda weird how many style bases they cover. A couple songs do the Gang of Four thang, a couple are ballads, a couple have that whole house-rock-dance fusion aspect that makes "House of Jealous Lovers" so fucking great, one song ("Sister Saviour") reminds me Donna Summer channeled through 80s synth-pop. I suggest picking it up as soon as it hits the states.

Of course, I seem to be one of the only people that actually believes it lived up to all of the hype. I let a couple friends listen to my promo copy and their opinions ranged from, "Yeah, it's good," to, "This is terrible."

[ericseguy]

I can recommend all three with a few caveats:

1) Decemberists has a one or two songs that you really have to be in the mood for to enjoy. "Song for Myla Goldberg," and "I Was Meant for the Stage."

2) Dead Meadow really is heavy psychedelic music. Hypnotic, but don't expect some fey indie-rock sort of thing.

3) "Echoes" is good, but the tinny house-synths become sort of grating after awhile. Not as good as the hype might suggest.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

There are many, many bands with a "current" Black Sabbath/Deep Purple thing going but Dead Meadow are not one of them. I like 'em but they're much more psych-influenced and almost "dreamy" as opposed to the pounding riff machine you might want to hear. Go over to www.StonerRock.com and check out the MP3 Jukebox or K666 Radio links if you want to hear bands with a modern take on that "style."

[earl grey]

vesper - i'm with you on the rapture album. i really, really fucking love that album. downloaded a leaked copy a few months ago and it's been essential for me all summer ... i will be picking it up the day it comes out over here. it covers a lot of styles and has a real varied sound, and it's very well sequenced. the dancier discopunk numbers are probably the best, though i like the ballads a lot too - esp. "open up your heart". kickass basslines throughout, and great production. it's amazing to me how much better they sound on this album than on their previous stuff.

the dead meadow album is good - perhaps one-dimensional, as you mentioned. i really enjoyed their live show and i think that might be why i dig the album - the few folks i've played it for weren't as into it. they mix it up with some acoustic songs on the album, so it's worth checking out if you like what you've heard....

i felt the exact same about the last decemberists record. a constant in my CD player at first, but now i never listen to it. i'm told the new one's better, but i've yet to hear it....

[jt. r]

i think of dead meadow as sabbath meets mbv-no real historionics (two handed tapping, etc) but a sound that washes over you like a tidal wave.

i love shivering king and howls from the hills. i wanna get the live disc but i've not found it anywhere. i also wish they'd stop by philadelphia and bring endless boogie along for the ride.

[jt. r]

can someone explain why a band like the decembrists can't release their stuff on records? i love castaways (although i agree that the pitchforker nmh comparisons are a bit much) but think it would be even better on vinyl. what's wrong with kill rock stars?

crazies. nevertheless, i hope to find a used copy of her majesty soon in the city's bins somewhere. i have to miss them when they pass through philly since i have to work monday nights. yuck.

[9000]

the dfa did a great production job on echoes. listen to the old rapture stuff and then listen the dfa produced stuff and you'll really see how production helped take the rapture to another level. my only complaint is that some of the songs (olio, house of jealous lovers) have already been out for some time now ("i was there..."). regardless, still great songs.