Ariel Pink

Add him to the long list of Pitchfork-lauded artists (rating 9.0+) that I dont get even a little bit. The list includes, but is by no means limited to: Panda Bear, Animal Collective, Joanna Newsom, Scott Walker, Grizzly Bear, etc, etc. I actually think that the music criticism on pitchfork.com, taken as a whole body, defines a real interesting, consistent aesthetic and a reasonably comphrensive alternate history of modern pop music, but sometimes I just throw up my hands at their end-of-year lists. I listened to "Before Today" beginning to end three times today, and heard NOTHING that brought me pleasure - I mean NOTHING. What am I supposed to be hearing here? "Round and Round" is the #1 song of the year? What am I missing? Please help. As always, I am willing and eager to be convinced.

Thank you in advance,
Nosepail

It took a few listens, but I really like the song. Haven't sampled the rest of the album. Not the best song of the year, at least not for me. Very beautiful in parts, and spacy as hell in others. Only works for me because right when you get saturated with one section, it hits another and the flow...just...keeps...going...

Maybe I need to listen to a few dozen R Stevie Moore cassette tapes, and then I will get it. It couldn't hurt.



Post Edited (01-20-11 16:18)

Interesting that you lump Scott Walker in with all the 'aughts-era indie rockers.

I saw Ariel Pink at Fun Fun Fun Fest a couple of months ago. I thought his band was terrific - basically a paisley underground psych/pop band. I thought Mr. Pink himself, though, was pretty much useless - a bad singer and a hapless frontman. I haven't heard the records, but based on that performance I've zero interest in doing so.

You're correct, Toland. I found Scott Walker's Drift a difficult record, but in a very different way than the other names above I mentioned. And he works in a totally different mileu. I just find this Haunted Graffiti record has an incredibly flat sound, and Ariel's vocals themselves are flatter than flat. He makes the Meat Puppets singer sound like....um....you get the idea.



Post Edited (01-20-11 16:33)

opinion::Not in my top 10, but in my top, say, 30 of 2010.



Post Edited (12-29-11 02:01)

You know, it took me over a year, but I have finally developed a genuine fondness for this Ariel Pink record. I'm really good at liking the records I am supposed to like.