Albums Worth Hearing #3
Nothing’s better than listening to tunes on an arbitrary day that doesn’t have much meaning besides what you give it. A bit of optimistic nihilism, eh? Not really sure what I’m trying to say here, but I figure I’m due for a few articles after being out of town last week.
1. Mark Hollis - Mark Hollis
Genre - Singer-Songwriter/Chamber Jazz
Release Date - 1998
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Mark Hollis is a massive inspiration to me, particularly his work with Talk Talk, but I can’t neglect his only solo effort from 1998. The self-titled album is more or less an extension of Talk Talk’s last two studio albums—The Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock—yet is more intimate and distilled into subdued, introspective acoustic minimalism.
Originally a major band in the New Wave scene of the 1980s, Talk Talk underwent a significant change in their sound over the course of their career, moving away from their early new wave and synth-pop influences towards a more experimental and atmospheric sound.
Hollis's debut solo album continued that route, showcasing a more stripped-down and experimental approach to music-making, featuring sparse instrumentation and a greater emphasis on silence and space.
The album received critical acclaim for its innovative and boundary-pushing sound, with many critics praising Hollis's willingness to take risks and challenge traditional musical conventions. From a contemporary lens, it’s had a lasting influence on a variety of genres, including post-rock, experimental, and ambient music.
RIP Mark Hollis.
2. Braid - Frame & Canvas
Genre - Midwest Emo
Release Date - 1998
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I just recently got into Braid, and I’m unsure what rock I’ve been living under all my life. The group’s third studio album Frame & Canvas is their most popular and is considered a seminal work of the Midwest emo genre. The record combined elements of punk, indie rock, and emo with complex guitar arrangements, intricate drumming, and emotionally charged vocals.
The album's influence is heard in the work of subsequent emo bands such as Saves the Day and Jimmy Eat World. Lyrically, it explores personal relationships, identity, and the struggle to find meaning in life. The emotional honesty and vulnerability of the lyrics resonated with many listeners and helped to establish Braid as a seminal emo band. I love it!
3. Bad Blood - The Bad Kind Decides
Genre - Hardcore
Release Date - 2023
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Nothing’s better than hardcore, particularly Buffalo hardcore. The debut from Bad Blood The Bad Kind Decides has everything you love about hardcore in a killer 11 minutes. The production is incredible, the tracks hit, and it simply rocks.
I thankfully got to pick this up on vinyl a week or so ago, and you can order a copy from Flatspot Records if you haven’t already. There’s also a hoodie and shirt on their site if you’re interested in something other than vinyl.