Album Analysis

Beacons · 04-26-2009, 06:31 PM

Has anyone here ever considered doing an analysis of one of your favorite albums? Like going track by track and discussing favorite parts of the album and even discuss production and songwriting. Just though it would be interesting.

Tomes of Deceit · 04-26-2009, 10:20 PM

I've thought a lot about it, but if we're talking death metal, I really don't think a track by track format makes a lot of sense in 99% of cases. Trying to distinguish songs from one another in a review of a death metal album starts to seem like an exercise in how many synonyms you can come up with for descriptions that weren't that enlightening in the first place.

The fact of the matter is that most extreme metal doesn't seem to lend itself all that well to verbal analysis. This is something I've been thinking a lot about recently. One could argue that the appeal of the music is so deeply rooted in the visceral or atmospheric elements that it's difficult to discuss. It may also be the case that no common framework has evolved in which to analyze the music. Death metal fans and musicians seem to be notoriously bad at making the music sound even remotely intelligent. Even the ones who try to endow it with some greater meaning (I'm looking at Trey here) just end up rambling.

Most of the time when we discuss death metal we seem to talk about certain riffs or vocal parts or drumming techniques, but these factors don't really seem to explain the difference between a great album and a generic one in a lot of cases.

goblin · 04-26-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomes of Deceit

Trying to distinguish songs from one another in a review of a death metal album starts to seem like an exercise in how many synonyms you can come up with for descriptions that weren't that enlightening in the first place.

Every* death metal album review.

* Fuck you, I know.

SLIT YOUR GUTZ · 04-26-2009, 10:58 PM

not against it, would just require more time than I like to spend in my brief visits to the board

entwinedwithsickness · 04-26-2009, 11:05 PM

I'd rather just listen and enjoy.

and I used to be a music reviewer.

VilEffigy · 04-27-2009, 03:02 AM

I think I could do this, but only in person for some reason.

Moemers · 04-27-2009, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilEffigy

I think I could do this, but only in person for some reason.

So you can rob them.

Typical.

VilEffigy · 04-27-2009, 03:04 AM

I'll get you, soon enough.

Moemers · 04-27-2009, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilEffigy

I'll get you, soon enough.

I bet you have a gun. And a shank carved from a hair pick.

Grindmasterflesh · 04-27-2009, 07:06 AM

I hate it when people distinguish particular songs on records. I listen to records as one piece...

quartertone · 04-27-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grindmasterflesh

I hate it when people distinguish particular songs on records. I listen to records as one piece...

It makes sense if some songs are quite different from the others, or much older - like on Blessed Are the Sick or Servile Insurrection.

Transient · 04-27-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomes of Deceit

The fact of the matter is that most extreme metal doesn't seem to lend itself all that well to verbal analysis.

oh dude!! have you ever taken a humanities or high level theory class? you can analyze ANYTHING!!!!!

quartertone · 04-27-2009, 09:03 AM

Well it's true, you can analyse anything. I could do a musical analysis of a metal album, but I'm not sure it would really be worth the time and effort.

ChAAPY · 04-27-2009, 10:23 AM

already have, twice. did it for an english class and an audio engineering one, lol.

Sako · 04-27-2009, 11:12 AM

What albums did you do?

ChAAPY · 04-27-2009, 11:38 AM

Dark Side of the Moon for both of them.

Tomes of Deceit · 04-28-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Transient

oh dude!! have you ever taken a humanities or high level theory class? you can analyze ANYTHING!!!!!

...yes I'm aware haha. I have humanities friends

gourmetanthropophagy · 04-28-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grindmasterflesh

I hate it when people distinguish particular songs on records. I listen to records as one piece...

I do this a lot too, especially if it's new, but if I'm listening to an album I've heard a bunch of times I might just want to listen to a of couple tracks and move on. But some albums, no matter how many times you listen to them just have to be listened to in whole. So I guess it kind of varies for me.

Transient · 04-28-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomes of Deceit

...yes I'm aware haha. I have humanities friends

TEXTS!!
AUTHORS AND THEIR TEXTS!!!

modern death · 04-28-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChAAPY

Dark Side of the Moon for both of them.

lol

RobertsTheCoolest · 04-28-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gourmetanthropophagy

I do this a lot too, especially if it's new, but if I'm listening to an album I've heard a bunch of times I might just want to listen to a of couple tracks and move on. But some albums, no matter how many times you listen to them just have to be listened to in whole. So I guess it kind of varies for me.

I've done the latter many times. I've been in class where I want to listen to maybe one or two songs and since they're at the beginning of an album or near the beginning, time will pass me by with how good each song gets and I'll end up finishing it. Usually is a good feeling too, haha.

Spew · 04-28-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gourmetanthropophagy

I do this a lot too, especially if it's new, but if I'm listening to an album I've heard a bunch of times I might just want to listen to a of couple tracks and move on. But some albums, no matter how many times you listen to them just have to be listened to in whole. So I guess it kind of varies for me.

EiF is a good example of that.

04-26-2009, 06:31 PM	#1
Beacons Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 2,125 Rep Power: 7	Album Analysis Has anyone here ever considered doing an analysis of one of your favorite albums? Like going track by track and discussing favorite parts of the album and even discuss production and songwriting. Just though it would be interesting.

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04-26-2009, 10:20 PM	#2
Tomes of Deceit eye decay Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 7,382 Rep Power: 17	I've thought a lot about it, but if we're talking death metal, I really don't think a track by track format makes a lot of sense in 99% of cases. Trying to distinguish songs from one another in a review of a death metal album starts to seem like an exercise in how many synonyms you can come up with for descriptions that weren't that enlightening in the first place. The fact of the matter is that most extreme metal doesn't seem to lend itself all that well to verbal analysis. This is something I've been thinking a lot about recently. One could argue that the appeal of the music is so deeply rooted in the visceral or atmospheric elements that it's difficult to discuss. It may also be the case that no common framework has evolved in which to analyze the music. Death metal fans and musicians seem to be notoriously bad at making the music sound even remotely intelligent. Even the ones who try to endow it with some greater meaning (I'm looking at Trey here) just end up rambling. Most of the time when we discuss death metal we seem to talk about certain riffs or vocal parts or drumming techniques, but these factors don't really seem to explain the difference between a great album and a generic one in a lot of cases.

04-26-2009, 10:58 PM	#4
SLIT YOUR GUTZ SHIT YOUR BUTTS Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,546 Rep Power: 13	not against it, would just require more time than I like to spend in my brief visits to the board

04-26-2009, 11:05 PM	#5
entwinedwithsickness almost human Join Date: May 2007 Location: East Meadow, NY Posts: 9,962 Rep Power: 16	I'd rather just listen and enjoy. and I used to be a music reviewer.

04-27-2009, 03:02 AM	#6
VilEffigy King of the Nig Nogs Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,140 Rep Power: 14	I think I could do this, but only in person for some reason.

04-27-2009, 03:04 AM	#8
VilEffigy King of the Nig Nogs Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,140 Rep Power: 14	I'll get you, soon enough.

04-27-2009, 07:06 AM	#10
Grindmasterflesh Cashflow Metal Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wallstreet Posts: 10,954 Rep Power: 19	I hate it when people distinguish particular songs on records. I listen to records as one piece...

04-27-2009, 09:03 AM	#13
quartertone Academmik musition Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 7,996 Rep Power: 13	Well it's true, you can analyse anything. I could do a musical analysis of a metal album, but I'm not sure it would really be worth the time and effort.

04-27-2009, 10:23 AM	#14
ChAAPY it's one louder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TX Posts: 15,600 Rep Power: 25	already have, twice. did it for an english class and an audio engineering one, lol.

04-27-2009, 11:12 AM	#15
Sako Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Reykjavík/Iceland Posts: 289 Rep Power: 8	What albums did you do?

04-27-2009, 11:38 AM	#16
ChAAPY it's one louder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TX Posts: 15,600 Rep Power: 25	Dark Side of the Moon for both of them.