The MG Album Club #24: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

[Unsomnambulist]

2010 was a great year in music, maybe the last great year in recent memory (?). My choice is what I think may be considered a classic as time passes to give greater perspective.

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Wow, that was quick!

 

[Nickyboy]

You have posted this many times in the "What are You Listening To?" threads. Looking forward to finally checking it out.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Wow, that was quick!

Just doing my part to get us back on schedule.

 

[lpfreak1170]

I know the cover well but have never listened to it. That shall now be rectified.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Get your hot (Spotify) links here:

 

[Ojai Sam]

This is one I'm gonna have to spin a few times before I can really comment. I don't listen to a lot of this sort of music. Would you call it shoegaze? Dream pop? I can see that there is quite a bit going on, I just can't figure out yet what it is.

 

[lpfreak1170]

A very solid . Fantastic album that I'm so glad this series finally got me to listen to!

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Earthquake didn’t set a very good tone for the album for me. It was a little too obscure, too slow, too shoegaze -- to use a term I’m not very good with. I think it set a wrong tone to start the album. But hey, I’m no artist. Maybe that was the “challenge track” to weed out the faint of heart.

By the time I got to Revival it picked up for me. Less experimental, more pop. I’m sorry to fall to the lowest common denominator rather than be all artsy and stuff. If it’s any consolation, I prefer a nice dark beer – I don’t drink anything in the Budweiser realm.

I liked Desire Lines. It had a nice rhythm, a nice melody, less crowded sound.

The next three tracks were fine, but didn’t jump out at me.

The saxophone break in Coronado caught me by surprise. It was a nice change.

He Would Have Laughed – that’s the same guitar rhythm as a Vampire Weekend song, isn’t it? Regardless, it was a nice song.

The album wasn’t bad. It sort of came and went for me. The gauzy, crowded, vaguely distorted style of music isn’t really my comfort zone, so it’s about what I would expect. In the end, I wouldn’t complain if someone played the CD, but I doubt I would get it off the shelf of my own accord.

I’m glad to have been exposed to it.

 

[Nickyboy]

Funny, because "Earthquake" grabbed me right away. I said "hell, I should have listened to this album years ago". And then it veered away from that sound and got more pop-y. Which isn't bad at all, I just wasn't expecting that. Their sound reminds me of some other band, but for the life of me I can't figure out who. Maybe a bit of Animal Collective from "Merryweather Post Pavilion"? The only track I had problems with was "Sailing". Oof! They could have left that one on the cutting floor.
I am glad this album was put in front of me. I will definitely give it more plays and want to check out the rest of their catalog.

 

[Ojai Sam]

After several spins, I still sort of like it but can't say I love it. So for now, I'm going to leave this at:

on the Sam-O-Meter.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/318418636138939553/

 

[Ojai Sam]

Wishy washy of course refers to me, not the record. With more time and some exposure to Unsom’s Favorite Albums I suspect my opinion of it may improve.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Listened to this one when I first joined the MG when I was checking out new music more based on members' reco's. Actually put it low down on my Top 10 of the year for 2010 back then - clearly I appreciated the quality back then

And I appreciate it now though have since been less interested in spinning quieter dreamy indie pop (in fact haven't played the album in the past 7-8 yrs). Guitar is outstanding on it. Good stuff though - appreciate why others enjoy this (it's on Unsom's best list, right?) without feeling the need to play it more often.

 

[axolotl]

I would say that my first listening experience of this album is akin to Nick's. "Earthquake" set a tone that I immediately liked, and the balance did not quite rise to that high point. Subsequent spins or streams revealed songs with effects, rhythms, and nuances that I came to appreciate more-and-more.

As well, "Sailing" takes me away, and it's not too far to paradise, with apologies to Chris Cross or Chris Craft, or whoever that glimmer-in-the-pan was.

Two weeks ago, I would have rated this at About a week ago, I would have placed this at

Now, I am quite persuaded that it qualifies to enter :4.25: territory, if that's a thing, which it isn't, because that is like an elevator stuck between two floors.

So, I will elevate it to , and stop with my incessant equivocation, which I can't, because, as I may have mentioned, it is incessant....

Word salad is a burden I must bear.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I would say that my first listening experience of this album is akin to Nick's. "Earthquake" set a tone that I immediately liked, and the balance did not quite rise to that high point. Subsequent spins or streams revealed songs with effects, rhythms, and nuances that I came to appreciate more-and-more.

As well, "Sailing" takes me away, and it's not too far to paradise, with apologies to Chris Cross or Chris Craft, or whoever that glimmer-in-the-pan was.

Two weeks ago, I would have rated this at About a week ago, I would have placed this at

Now, I am quite persuaded that it qualifies to enter :4.25: territory, if that's a thing, which it isn't, because that is like an elevator stuck between two floors.

So, I will elevate it to , and stop with my incessant equivocation, which I can't, because, as I may have mentioned, it is incessant....

Word salad is a burden I must bear.

Word Salad is a bear you must burden with your incessant equivocation?

 

[axolotl]

Word Salad is a bear you must burden with your incessant equivocation?

Until he swats me and eats my entrails.

That will end my trails and trials, for that matter.