Pulse Album Club: General Discussion & Nominations

[Kurt]

This thread may be used to discuss general aspects of the Pulse Album Club, as well as to nominate future albums.

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Hi, everyone! I'm hoping that a slightly revised format to the Pulse Album Club will make it easier to keep things going each month, and on the chance that I am not always active, to make it easier for someone else to take over. Instead of using the committee method discussed last year, I'd like to try a slightly different (and less structured) approach. While one pair of albums is being discussed, this thread may be used for general comments and to nominate albums to be discussed later. I plan to make the final choices each month, but will be looking at which albums are receiving a positive response here, along with what is happening in pop culture (i.e. announcements of new music from an artist or a reunited group that was once popular before disbanding).

Another question I have for you all: are two albums per month enough, or would you rather do four (either with two albums per two weeks or four albums per month)? I'm happy with either option.

Finally, I'll put forward a suggestion for next month: we know that a lot of people here are somewhat interested in Fleetwood Mac and we've previously discussed Rumours in Random Thoughts. Since Rumours is being re-released on January 29 and their upcoming world tour will possibly include more songs from Tusk, I'd like to suggest one of those two (I'd prefer Tusk since I checked out the other last summer) for our older album.

Thanks in advance for your participation and I hope this goes well, haha! :)

[Au$tin]

I definitely like the idea of Rumours or Tusk for next month's old album.

I like the idea of having not two, not four, but three albums per month. One very recent one, one "classic" one, and one from the last decade or so.

[Gravity.]

Either Rumours or Tusk would be okay for the older album. I've listened to both of them enough that I can write a pretty good length review of either one. They're both great, so it doesn't really matter which you pick.

[K.]

This may be too recent to qualify as an older album but too old to qualify as a recent album, but I would like to nominate ZZ Ward's Till the Casket Drops. I haven't seen anyone on Pulse talk about her, but she has all the qualities I would think people here would love. Good voice, excellent songwriting, pop-friendly, female, etc.

I like the idea of having not two, not four, but three albums per month. One very recent one, one "classic" one, and one from the last decade or so.

Or how about the following: (1) album released within the past 30 days; (2) "classic" album or album by a "classic" artist; (3) album from any period by a not-well-known artist?

[Kurt]

Jan 3, 2013 11:36:58 GMT -5 K. said:

This may be too recent to qualify as an older album but too old to qualify as a recent album, but I would like to nominate ZZ Ward's Till the Casket Drops. I haven't seen anyone on Pulse talk about her, but she has all the qualities I would think people here would love. Good voice, excellent songwriting, pop-friendly, female, etc.

I like the idea of having not two, not four, but three albums per month. One very recent one, one "classic" one, and one from the last decade or so.

Or how about the following: (1) album released within the past 30 days; (2) "classic" album or album by a "classic" artist; (3) album from any period by a not-well-known artist?

It'd fit under our current definition of "new," since The ArchAndroid is two years older, haha. I like that three-album categorization; may have to think about that for next month!

[Deleted]

I nominate: Zedd - Clarity

[K.]

Tegan & Sara - Heartthrob

[horchata]

Jessie Ware - Devotion

[#LisaRinna]

Is this coming back for good? I enjoyed the last (and only) run we did last year.

[josh]

Feb 6, 2013 8:08:17 GMT -5 Codex said:

I nominate: Zedd - Clarity

I second. 3rd since Krhazy liked the post.

[#LisaRinna]

I'd like to have Tusk over Rumours from Fleetwood Mac.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Hmm. I have a few ideas, but I don't think some of them would qualify. I'll go ahead and list them anyways.

1) Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
2) fun. - Some Nights
3) Kansas - Point of Know Return or Leftoverture
4) Garth Brooks - No Fences or any of his albums, actually
5) The B-52's - Cosmic Thing

[damazz09]

I'll admit that I listened to both albums for January's 2013 album club but I never wrote a response. I'm still debating about writing one soon. But I think it's a good idea and I really hope it doesn't die because it's a great opportunity to discover new music and hear others inputs.

I would nominate
The Sound of Arrows "Voyage"
Patrick Wolf "Lupercalia"
Mika "The Origin of Love"

[K.]

Hey Kurt, would you have any interest in trying this again? I would definitely be up for participating. Maybe we could try for like three albums per month, and people could give their thoughts on as many as they want. One by Pulse favorite, one by a new/unknown artist, and one classic album?

Some suggestions for February would be:

Pulse Favs / New Artists:
Little Mix - Salute (Feb. 4)
Eric Church - The Outsiders (Feb 11)
Greg Laswell - I Was Going to Be an Astronaut (Feb 11)
We Are the In Crowd - Weird Kids (Feb. 18)
Sean Paul - Full Frequency (Feb 18)
Jennifer Nettles - That Girl (Jan. 14)
Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage, & Divorce (Feb. 4)
A Great Big World - Is There Anybody Out There (Jan. 21)
Candice Glover - Music Speaks (Feb 18)

Classic album ideas (haven't listened to these or its been a while):
Prince - Purple Rain
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
George Michael - Faith
Frank Sinatra - September of My Years
Glen Campbell - By the Time I Get to Pheonix
The Carpenters - Close to You


The February 18ths are kind of late, I guess.

[Kurt]

I really want to if others do! And hey, what would January be without another attempt to start it up?

[Wave.]

And I wouldn't mind doing this.

[Kurt]

If we do start it back up, I'd recommend picking one current album to discuss until the end of the month as a starter, then starting more regularly with already-released albums on February 1. (We could then hold over late-in-the-month releases until the next month; if we don't have the full month for discussion, I feel like it'd die out.)

I'll toss John Newman and Sharon & The Dap-Kings into the for-your-consideration pile too.

[K.]

Good choices. I've been meaning to listen to Newman's album.

[Hefty Hanna]

Yes, I really want this back!!!

Also, my recommendation is If You Leave by Daughter. They're becoming pretty substantial and I was surprised not to see any threads here at Pulse for them yet. It's probably a good pick + it's really great music.

[Sir Benji]

Jan 20, 2014 21:46:15 GMT -5 Hefty Hanna said:

Yes, I really want this back!!!

I second this notion.

[Deleted]

Thirded!

[#LisaRinna]

Fourthed?


As long as both of the albums aren't by Rock or Pop acts.

[Kurt]

John Newman's Tribute is up for the remainder of the month: pulsemusic.proboards.com/thread/137528/pulse-album-january-newman-tribute

Let's decide on doing two or three for next month, including at least one new/recent release and one "old" album. I'll second Mario's request for genre diversity!

Suggested so far:
A Great Big World - Is There Anybody Out There? (new)
Andrew Ripp - Simple (new)
Candice Glover - Music Speaks (Feb 18)
Daughter - If You Leave (recent)
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Like It Never Happened (new)
Eric Church - The Outsiders (Feb 11)
Frank Sinatra - September of My Years (old)
Genesis - Invisible Touch (old)
George Michael - Faith (old)
Glen Campbell - By the Time I Get to Phoenix (old)
Greg Laswell - I Was Going to Be an Astronaut (Feb 11)
Jennifer Nettles - That Girl (Jan. 14)
Little Mix - Salute (new)
London Grammar - If You Wait (recent)
Prince - Purple Rain (old)
Sean Paul - Full Frequency (Feb 18)
Sharon & The Dap-Kings - Give The People What They Want (new)
The Carpenters - Close to You (old)
Three Days Grace - Transit of Venus (recent)
Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage, & Divorce (Feb. 4)
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (old)
We Are the In Crowd - Weird Kids (Feb. 18)

(I added a Genesis album to the list upon the news that Phil Collins is writing with Adele, plus a new one I like. *shrug*)

[K.]

Could I add another suggestion? I liked the clips of Andrew Ripp's new album "Simple," and it just became available on Spotify, so that could be a good choice.

[dbhmr]

What about If You Wait by London Grammar?

[Deleted]

Okay, I just thought of a recommendation:
Three Days Grace - "Transit Of Venus"

[#LisaRinna]

Let's do Purple Rain and Love, Marriage & Divorce for next month.

Prince is enough diversity I hate this month's selection and I refuse to participate with a Pop act.
Otherwise, Faith for the old album is great for me.

[Hefty Hanna]

Jan 26, 2014 9:20:22 GMT -5 #LisaRinna said:

Let's do Purple Rain and Love, Marriage & Divorce for next month.

Prince is enough diversity I hate this month's selection and I refuse to participate with a Pop act.
Otherwise, Faith for the old album is great for me.

1. Again, John Newman has more soul than most of the R&B acts you listen to.
2. I think it's a shame that you have lately become so closed minded to music that's not R&B music. You clearly recognize quality music when you hear it based off of your taste in R&B music. The whole point of Pulse Album Club is to introduce people to music they might not have ever listened to otherwise. Not wanting to break your typical listening norm completely and utterly defeats the purpose of this project so if you don't want to participate, by all means you don't have to, but I do wish you would reconsider.

[#LisaRinna]

Jan 27, 2014 2:14:23 GMT -5 Hefty Hanna said:

Jan 26, 2014 9:20:22 GMT -5 #LisaRinna said:

Let's do Purple Rain and Love, Marriage & Divorce for next month.

Prince is enough diversity I hate this month's selection and I refuse to participate with a Pop act.
Otherwise, Faith for the old album is great for me.

1. Again, John Newman has more soul than most of the R&B acts you listen to.
2. I think it's a shame that you have lately become so closed minded to music that's not R&B music. You clearly recognize quality music when you hear it based off of your taste in R&B music. The whole point of Pulse Album Club is to introduce people to music they might not have ever listened to otherwise. Not wanting to break your typical listening norm completely and utterly defeats the purpose of this project so if you don't want to participate, by all means you don't have to, but I do wish you would reconsider.

1. Subjective.
2. I listen to a lot of different music, even though I may not discuss it here so the fact that you think I'm closed minded pains me.
In any case, I've listened to enough of this album to form an opinion and I'm just not into it. I don't like it. I will probably participate commenting when and if the future selections grab my attention and excite me. Otherwise I prefer not to flog the thread with my negativity. I don't want to be that kind of person.

[Hefty Hanna]

Something else I am very much in to at the moment is Secondhand Rapture by MS MR.

Oh and Til The Casket Drops by ZZ Ward is also something everybody needs to listen to. Perfect album.