Before this week I had never listened to a Chemical Brothers album all the way through. I have heard a number of their songs over the years, but never fancied them enough to look into them all that carefully. I must say that the songs I heard of theirs before listening to their nominated album Further, always left me a bit confused. I could never really tell if they are trying to be a pop band or be an electronica band or be a pop electronica band or just trying to play good music period. After listening to their album Further, I am still confused as to what niche or genre if you will, they are trying to appeal to. A few songs were very accessible to me, I am some one who is admittedly not into a lot of electronica music, but other songs failed to resonate with me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed listening to the album and I plan to listen to it some more.
Feist on the other hand, has been an album we have owned for a number of years and I have listened to it countless times. In fact it very nearly made my own top ten list, but I did not end up including it. This is an album I love and I do not tire of it.
Two things stood out to me in my decision making process. 1. I was judging one album I had never heard before vs. one I have owned for quite some time. Ownership bias noted. 2. One fell in a genre of music I like vs. the other one in a genre I'm not so hot on. Inability to be a good music critic noted.
I wish I could have somehow put my biases aside but that proved impossible. Hence Feist moves on to the next round.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI just now read the manner in which I was supposed to absorb the Chemical Brothers, alas I did not listen to them in this way. Although I must say the context you provided seems it would be an appropraite one in which to enjoy these guys.
no brad...biases are good...
ReplyDeleteBrad, maybe you would have been OK with a pacifier loaded up with some newfangled medicine.
ReplyDeleteThis would have been a tough one for me...it would be hard to vote against anything chemical.
Brad, I commend you on your decision. Go with your biases. You are the most earnest person in this whole Death Match anyways; don't let any of these Canadian bastards try to grind you down with their trash talk...
ReplyDeleteEric,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the Michigan solidarity. However I must state two things.
1. I really hope my Canadian nominee by way of Somalia, a former refugee, beats your pick of Detroit's own J. Dilla.
2. I would think the Canadians in this competition would be happy I picked Feist, one of their own over some jokers from the U.K., dudes from the country that colonized Canada no less!!
I feel you could have taken this one just about in any direction and I'd support it.
ReplyDelete