Best of lists.....

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olan
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Best of lists.....

Post by olan »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/ ... ms-of-2012

Seems like it is that time of year again. Interesting list in places from the Guardian. It is probably time to think of personal top 10s for the year.....
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Aquarian-Time »

How about we all pop our top 10's for the year, and by the end of the year we could tot up our very own spitualized forum winner.
If everyone put them in order for their favourite first and down to ten. Ten points for 1st, down to 1pt for 10th.
I will gladly do the totting up. If we leave the thread open for December gives even the mosts casual posters chance to vote.

On the subject of lists Piccadilly Records booklet is out with their end of year lists, seems like this is the only chart that counts these days !! If you prurchase something out of the top 20 I think you get a free sampler with 17 tracks on from their lists.

White Manna came third and in a brief interview they said they are heading over to the Uk in the spring. hurrah !

If this is a popular enough idea, then lets get on it. Whats everyone think ?
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by johnnyboy »

I always love an 'end of year' list. Was just looking through Uncut and Mojo in Smiths this lunchtime and whilst I don't agree with their lists at all (not that I've heard 50 new albums this year, far from it) it's still good to read through and think "yeah, I'll give that a go" or scoff at the fact they have Leonard Cohen and Jack White as their respective #1's.

I really couldn't list 10 albums as I don't think I've heard more than that anyway, so mine would just purely be what I've bought, which isn't a lot this year. Would love to hear about everyone elses though as this lovely forum is always a great place to pick up on new/old sounds.

On my Xmas list are - Ty Segall 'Twins' or the 'Brotherhood' one (taking a punt on either, not got anything else by him at all but reckon I'd like him), Thee Oh Sees 'Putrifiers II', Grizzly Bear 'Shields' (again, just a punt), Luminanas 'Crystal Anin', Night Beats 's/t', Woods 'Bend Beyond'. If anyone reads into that and thinks "hey JB will love this......" then add some top tips in.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by johnnyboy »

johnnyboy wrote: On my Xmas list are - Ty Segall 'Twins' or the 'Brotherhood' one (taking a punt on either, not got anything else by him at all but reckon I'd like him), .
I meant to type his 'Goodbye Bread' album not Brotherhood...........whatever that is related to.

Uncut have a good feature on him this month actually.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Aquarian-Time »

Maybe a top five, bearing in mind what you said there Johnnyboy.

Twins is a a great album btw. Bit more polished but still plenty of fuzz
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by shalloboi »

i've been having some trouble whittling my list down to a top 20. the top 5 always pick themselves, i've found. mine's pretty much ready but i'm waiting to post it because there's usually something that comes along and shakes things up right at the last minute. pretty great.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by niamhm »

good to see Goat -World Music doing so well in these lists,
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Aquarian-Time »

Ok I will kick things offf

1) Moon Duo-Mazes
2) Carlton Melton-Photos of Photos
3) Django Djano-Self titled album
4) Mark Lanegan Band-
5)Goat-World Music
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by mc »

This is mine, barring any late entries:

1) Ultrasound - Play For Today

2) Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

3) Burial - Kindred EP

4) Earth - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II

5) The Twilight Sad - No One Will Ever Know

6) Drcarlsonalbion - La Strega and the Cunning Man in the Smoke

7) Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

8) Spiritualized - Sweet Heart Sweet Light

9) Swans - The Seer

10) Om - Advaitic Songs

11) Brian Eno - LUX

Edit: I strongly suspect I'll have to make room for Burial's forthcoming One/Two single before the year is out. Maybe I'll just list it alongside Kindred EP; together they'll make up about an LP's worth :)
Last edited by mc on Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.
olan
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by olan »

Here is my top ten, subject to revision for December releases. It ignores my favourite album of the year, The Heads: Radio One, as this is a compilation. Having said that, this has been an excellent year for music.

1. Carlton Melton: Photos of Photos
2. Mark Lanegan Band: Blues Funeral
3. Eat Lights Become Lights: Heavy Electrics
4. Kandodo: Kandodo
5. Moon Duo: Circles
6: Tlaotlon: Squirt Image Flex
7. Six Organs of Admittance: Mariakapel
8. Tindersticks: The Something Rain
9. White Hills: Frying On This Rock
10. Orbital: Wonky

Honourable mentions: Spiritualized, The Wake, The Orb & Lee Scratch Perry

Best gig of the year: Carlton Melton, Mello Mello, Liverpool
Worst gig of the year: Liz Fraser, Festival Hall, London (nice voice shame about the band)
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

Aquarian-Time wrote:Ok I will kick things offf

1) Moon Duo-Mazes
Circles?
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by spzretent »

I'll chime in:
1. Kenny Tudrick- S/T LP
2. Spiritualized- Sweet Heart Sweet Light LP
3. Mark Lanegan- Blues Funeral LP
4. The See See- Fountayne Mountain LP
5. Peaking Lights- Lucifer LP
6. White Manna- S/T LP
7. Sleepy Sun- Spine Hits LP
8. Moon Duo- Circles LP
9. Cat Power- Sun LP
10. Django Django- S/T LP

Reissues: Luna Lps, Lee Hazlewood- The LH1 Years, Louvin Brothers- Satan is Real, George Harrison.
Revelations: Volta Sound, Bill Withers funky stuff,
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

I really want to hear the new Eno and Scott Walker albums before I put together my list, but here's what I've got for a top five so far:

1. Goat : World Music
2. Diagrams : Black Light
3. Lambchop : Mr. M
4. Dinosaur Jr. : I Bet On Sky
5. Spiritualized : Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Aquarian-Time »

aahh good spot... I meant Circles

my 6-10 are
6) Clinic-Free Reign
7) White Manna-White Manna
8)The Raveonettes-Observator
9) The See See-Fountanye Mountain
10)Six Organs Of Admittance-Ascent
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by angelsighs »

here is mine in order from best downwards (I think the weighted system suggested by Aquarian Time is the best way to go)
I'm pretty sure I haven't heard 10 new albums this year, let alone 10 albums I really really like, so it's a top 5 from me.

1) Six Organs of Admittance -Ascent
2) The Twilight Sad- No One Can Ever Know
3) Dirty Three- Toward The Low Sun
4) GYBE- 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
5) White Manna - s/t
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

Man, I think 2012 has been a great year for albums. I've really struggled to pick my top ten, especially putting them in order of preference. Also, my list is definitely subject to change with the likes of Goat, Richard Hawley, Tame Impala and Neil Young all on the Christmas wish list :D . Anyway, here's my list:-

1. Carlton Melton - Photo of Photos (inc. bonus 12")
2. Spiritualized - Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
3. White Mana - White Mana
4. Chris Robinson Brotherhood - Big Moon Ritual
5. Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet on Sky
6. Mark Lanegan - Blues Funeral
7. Eternal Tapestry - Dawn In 2 Dimensions
8. White Hills - Frying On This Rock
9. Tim Burgess - Oh No, I love You
10. Moon Duo - Circles

Have to add that albums by Kandodo, Bobby Womack, Eat Lights;Become Lights, Six Organs of Admittance and the Sun Araw LP with the Congos all just narrowly missed out and if I compiled this list another day would probably have made it.
Last edited by Shinesalight on Fri Nov 30, 2012 7:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by shalloboi »

alright, so far this is where it is-

beach house- 'bloom'
spiritualized- 'sweet heart sweet light'
sharon van etten- 'tramp'
sigur ros- 'valtari'
jessica bailiff- 'at the down-turned jagged rim of the sky'
GSY!BE- ''allelujah! don't bend! ascend!'
tamaryn- 'tender new signs'
thee oh sees- 'putrifiers ii'
white fence- 'family perfume vol. 1 & 2'
brian jonestown massacre- 'aufheben'
moon duo- 'circles'
ty segall- 'twins'
radar eyes- 's/t'
wild nothing- 'nocturne'
dirty three- 'toward the low sun'
the raveonettes- 'observator'
sic alps- 's/t'
grizzly bear- 'shields'
tame impala- 'lonerism'
melody's echo chamber- 's/t'
disappears- 'pre language'
beachwood sparks- 'the tarnished gold'
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by stegraham »

Sorry, not in any order. Top Ten for this year:

Saint Etienne - Words and Music
The Primitives - Echoes And Rhymes
Cheval Sombre - Mad Love
Fuxa - Electric Sound Of Summer
Spiritualized - Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
Sennen - Lost Harmony
BMX Bandits - In Space
The Cult - Choice of Weapon
Jim Noir - Jimmy's Show
Active Minds - Turn Back The Tide Of Bigotry

Re-issues? Well, the two Light in the Attic Lee Hazlewood releases have been listened to a lot in our house - Singles, Nudes, & Backsides and A House Safe For Tigers. Tempted with the 7" collection - hopefully they'll release on CD next year along with more Lee stuff.

Ste
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Laz69 »

stegraham wrote: BMX Bandits - In Space
I've been planning on having a think about my list, but this is DEFINITELY on it. Best album they have done for years! "Unforgiven" is so very beautiful!
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

Dusted posted a review full of high praise for the new Walker album. I really want to hear it now.

http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/7509
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by angelsighs »

this thread is making me think i'm slacking in terms of keeping up with new releases! :lol:
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by James T »

Sun Kill Moon, Leonard Cohen, Brian Eno, Spiritualized, Godspeed, Guided by Voices (All three!)
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by flokie »

My best of list isn't quite ready yet, although it normally would at this time of year, but let's have a go:

Top 3: Goat, White Manna, Moon Duo

Should make it into my final top 10:
Mark Lanegan, Gareth Dickson, Bo Ningen, Perfume Genius, Cian Ciaran, My Best Fiend.
There may just be room for SHSL.

But there are some more LPs I'm yet to pick up or need to give some more listens.

If I'm allowed to cheat a bit...I would have a 2011 release in my top 4: Gentle Stream by the Amazing, which pretty much soundtracked my summer, and then got an American release this autumn.

Right now I'm very tempted to order the Pretty Lightning LP from that Piccadilly records list... what I've heard so far sounds very good indeed.
olan
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by olan »

Another re-release worthy of the top ten but disallowed by virtue of not being new: White Hills - Abstractions & Mutations. Arrived today in the post in gold translucent vinyl (hangover p*ss really). Really enjoying this......
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

flokie wrote:Should make it into my final top 10:

Cian Ciaran
Can't believe I left this out of my top ten after I waited so long for it to arrive on vinyl :oops:

To be honest I think I'll be completely revising my list after Christmas with quite a few albums hopefully finding their way under my tree :wink:
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by KingHarry »

Fuxa - Electric Sound of Summer
Carter Tutti Void - Transverse
Magic Castles - Magic Castles
Moon Duo - Circles
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben
Cheval Sombre - Mad Love
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
Chromatics - Kill for Love
Sun Araw, M Geddes Gengras & The Congos
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by jack white »

1: death grips - the money store
2: cat power - sun
3: ufomammut - Oro: Opus Primum
4: bo ningen - line the wall
5: lanegan - blues funeral
6: frank ocean - channel orange
7: menomena - "moms"
8: ty segall - twins
9: flying lotus - until the quiet comes
10: white denim - last day of summer

lots of honourable mentions - Spz; Dino Jr; Richard Hawley; Killing Joke; Allah-las; Rival Sons; dylan leblanc; calexico;six organs; swans; sharon van etten; earth; sweet billy pilgrim; the caretaker; acid mothers temple; actress; moon duo; viv albertine; rebekka karijord; howlin rain; cloud nothings & of course jack white!


re-issues?
fuck that shit. i really loathe that crap. most of it's dead & should be left dead. & what's not is survived by old farts w/more money than sense conned by a decrepit dying industry run by used car salesmen.
gonna burn brightly
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

jack white wrote: 10: white denim - last day of summer

re-issues?
fuck that shit. i really loathe that crap. most of it's dead & should be left dead. & what's not is survived by old farts w/more money than sense conned by a decrepit dying industry run by used car salesmen.
Didn't that White Denim album come out a couple of years ago Jack?....maybe you don't hate reissues as much as you let on :wink:
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by jack white »

Ha! What a moron. Completely forgot about it being a comp from before.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by redcloud »

jack white wrote: re-issues?
fuck that shit. i really loathe that crap. most of it's dead & should be left dead. & what's not is survived by old farts w/more money than sense conned by a decrepit dying industry run by used car salesmen.
Sorry, but this has to be the most outrageous comment that I have ever read on this board. Maybe I misunderstand what your point is but, with that logic that means one cannot watch an old film that has been digitally mastered ('North By Northwest'), enjoy looking at art from dead artists that have been restored (Sistine Chapel) or read old books that have been reprinted? Right?

I'll be 44 next month. I don't view myself as an "old fart" and I certainly don't have "more money than sense" but I have indeed bought reissues of rare 60's albums that are extremely hard to find or if one does find originals they are financially WAY out of my price range. Does that mean I have been "conned by a used car salesman from a dying industry"? :roll:
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by spzretent »

Without reissues i'd be lost.
Right off the top of my head I wish I was hip enough to have bought Link Wray's S/T in 1971. That Lp is part of the Three Track Shack trilogy. Alas I was not. In fact, until my friend in Scotland sent me a CD of it last year I had never heard it.
That record is a life changer. I have since turned on several friends whom it just blew away.
The original vinyl makes for an excellent and surprising gift when found for under $30.
That is just at the top of reissue mouintain for me.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by redcloud »

spzretent wrote:Without reissues i'd be lost.
Right off the top of my head I wish I was hip enough to have bought Link Wray's S/T in 1971. That Lp is part of the Three Track Shack trilogy. Alas I was not. In fact, until my friend in Scotland sent me a CD of it last year I had never heard it.
That record is a life changer. I have since turned on several friends whom it just blew away.
The original vinyl makes for an excellent and surprising gift when found for under $30.
That is just at the top of reissue mouintain for me.
I think the same can be said about the Relatively Clean Rivers album. Only a handful were ever pressed and it faded into obscurity. Originals trade hands for nearly $1000 but some have sold for over that. The "unofficial" Radioactive reissue is literally THE only way I would ever have the opportunity to own this beautiful record on vinyl. Same can be said about many, many more ultra rare or out of print LP's that are sadly, far out of my price range.

So, sorry Jack White...I totally disagree with your stance on reissues. Now, if that reissue fucks with the original music (example...that James Gang 'Yer Album' that omits songs OR the 80's reissue of the 1st two ZZ Top albums that added 80's style drumming to cash in on their 80's success) that is total bullshit. But, a reissue CAN definitely serve a legit purpose.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by redcloud »

Been thinking about this and I'm sure I will miss something....but, here goes my list:

There have been some great albums released this year but for me none have made as much of an impact as:

Kenny Tudrick - s/t

After this gem, in no particular order are:

Chris Robinson Brotherhood - Big Moon Ritual
Green Pajamas - Death by Misadventure
Mark Lanegan - Blues Funeral
Pontiacs - Bursting
Spiritualized - SH/SL
Sleepy Sun - Spine Hits
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by angelsighs »

I've gotta take umbrage with the comment about reissues too.. there is definitely a debate to be had there, but no need to word it so aggressively. A lovingly put together reissue of some great music can be a wonderful thing.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by spzretent »

What does piss me off regarding reissues are these SUPER DELUXE reissues of classic LPs. Quadrophenia, Exile On Main St, Paul McCartney- Ram, Beach Boys- Smile etc. The ones with books, posters, DVDs etc that retail around the $100 mark.
How many times do you need people to buy a release?
Also, I think these reissued 7"s for Record Store Day are cash grabs too. I have just given up on those. It seems like lots of shops around here get stuck with them too.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by MODLAB »

No particular order Top 9!

Moon Duo — Circles
Black Marble — Different Arrangement
Spiritualized — Sweet Heart / Sweet Light
Violens — True
Orbital — Wonky
Tame Impala — Lonerism
Heroin In Tahiti — Death Surf
Beak> — >>
TOY — TOY


B,

M

and a bunch of other stuff that really does not pertain to the musical tastes of this forum.
Design.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by angelsighs »

spzretent wrote:What does piss me off regarding reissues are these SUPER DELUXE reissues of classic LPs. Quadrophenia, Exile On Main St, Paul McCartney- Ram, Beach Boys- Smile etc. The ones with books, posters, DVDs etc that retail around the $100 mark.
How many times do you need people to buy a release?
Also, I think these reissued 7"s for Record Store Day are cash grabs too. I have just given up on those. It seems like lots of shops around here get stuck with them too.
fair point on those super deluxe things that have non-musical bits and bobs in them. they are milking fans. I think because the industry has been hit hard by illegal downloading, they have tried to make the physical packages even more elaborate to compensate (i.e. add in loads of stuff that you can't actually download)
however if the extra content is musical I don't have a problem with it. I love getting extra demos, B sides and stuff. off the top of my head, look at the superb Mary chain reissues from last year, for example. lovingly done and includes all the bands output from a certain era, in one foul swoop. and who isn't salivating over that Velvets boxset that's just come out?
I don't see how having more music in the world is a bad thing- old or new.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by johnnyboy »

My list is going to be pants, it's pretty much a top 5 of the 5 albums I've only bought this year. I could go listen to some on Spotify or whatever but I always list the ones I've actually purchased.

Chromatics - Kill For Love (my most played album of the year, wonderful)
Moon Duo - Circles (instant hit but not played much since, though it rules when I do)
Beach House - Bloom (lovely atmosphere, always welcome)
Ty Segall - Twins (new purchase and a new artist for me - like like like)
Allah Las - s/t (wasn't initially that taken by it but it's grown and grown on me, links nicely with my Elevators/Byrds fetish)
Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II (which is a lie - only heard it via Spotify but it's coming for Xmas so I'm putting it in here.....the opening track is one of the years best openers - well, what I've heard anyway)

Oh, I did buy Blues Funeral but unlike everyone else on here I wasn't that keen on it, in fact it bored me so I took it back for two albums from the previous year which now give me great joy (Dum Dum Girls debut & Beach Houses one before last). Sorry to say I haven't felt an urge to buy the new Spz album........but this place shall be my 'forum of the year' winner :D
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by KingHarry »

Just to add to my list, and unmentioned I think so far -

Land Observations - Roman Roads IV - XI

Sublime
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by redcloud »

So, there was some excitement here when the new Neil Young jam album, 'Psychedelic Pill' was being discussed but I don't see it making anybody's list. I have yet to buy it but what is the overall consensus from those who have? Is this an over indulgent, bloated dud or is it still decent but not enough to make it into a best of list? Is the cd worth my $17 (I certainly wont be buying the over priced LP)?
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

redcloud wrote:So, there was some excitement here when the new Neil Young jam album, 'Psychedelic Pill' was being discussed but I don't see it making anybody's list. I have yet to buy it but what is the overall consensus from those who have? Is this an over indulgent, bloated dud or is it still decent but not enough to make it into a best of list? Is the cd worth my $17 (I certainly wont be buying the over priced LP)?
My girlfriend has bought me the vinyl version of this for Xmas (not sure if its a case of she has more money than sense or that she really didn't know what to get me :wink: ) so wont really be able to offer an opinion till the new year once I've given it some serious listening to.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

I listened to a number of the tracks via YouTube and enjoyed most of it. Ramada Inn is fantastic. I think it's easily worth $17. I think I may also be getting the vinyl version for Christmas, so I can report back after I've had a more thorough listen, but I suspect I will recommend that you save your dough and grab the cd version.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by niamhm »

like some others I couldn`t put them in order , just some of my fav. sounds this year,

Spiritualized-Sweet Heart,Sweet Light,
Ty Segal & White Fence-Hair,
Ty Segal Band-Slaughterhouse,
Burial-Kindred,
Six Organs-Ascent,
Mark Lanegan Band-Blues Funeral,
Richard Hawley-Standing At The Skys Edge,
Moon Duo- Circles,
Goat-World Music,
Drexciya-Journey Of The Deep Sea Dwellars II,
Ufomammut-Oro:Opus Primum,
White Hills-Frying On This Rock,
Bob Dylan- Tempest,
Tame Impala-Lonerism,
Allah Las-s/t,

all in all some great albums this year,
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by semisynthetic »

angelsighs wrote:
spzretent wrote:What does piss me off regarding reissues are these SUPER DELUXE reissues of classic LPs. Quadrophenia, Exile On Main St, Paul McCartney- Ram, Beach Boys- Smile etc. The ones with books, posters, DVDs etc that retail around the $100 mark.
How many times do you need people to buy a release?
Also, I think these reissued 7"s for Record Store Day are cash grabs too. I have just given up on those. It seems like lots of shops around here get stuck with them too.
fair point on those super deluxe things that have non-musical bits and bobs in them. they are milking fans. I think because the industry has been hit hard by illegal downloading, they have tried to make the physical packages even more elaborate to compensate (i.e. add in loads of stuff that you can't actually download)
however if the extra content is musical I don't have a problem with it. I love getting extra demos, B sides and stuff. off the top of my head, look at the superb Mary chain reissues from last year, for example. lovingly done and includes all the bands output from a certain era, in one foul swoop. and who isn't salivating over that Velvets boxset that's just come out?
I don't see how having more music in the world is a bad thing- old or new.

There are a few of these re-releases that attempt to reproduce the original issues, artwork, posters, and so on, and that has to be expensive to do; I DO LIKE the alternate takes, or just some ambient sounds of when the record was made; the "b" sides that were great but are just difficult to find make the collections OK for me; I agree that more music in the world can't hurt; and the GREAT STUFF that just got lost along the way is fun to find or share!
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

TheWarmth wrote:I listened to a number of the tracks via YouTube and enjoyed most of it. Ramada Inn is fantastic. I think it's easily worth $17. I think I may also be getting the vinyl version for Christmas, so I can report back after I've had a more thorough listen, but I suspect I will recommend that you save your dough and grab the cd version.
What are your thoughts then Paul? I'm loving this, especially the two monumental first and last tracks (Drifting Back and Walk Like A Giant). Nice playing this while reading Waging Heavy Peace. By the way, did you get a download code with your copy of the vinyl? I don't appear to have one which, for all the money the vinyl edition costs, seems a bit tight. I trout for that kind of money they coluld have included a CD of the the album, which is my favourite option when it comes to vinyl purchases. Having said, the vinyl edition is a thing of real beauty, both to the ear and the eye.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

The holidays and work have been so hectic that I haven't been able to listen to any vinyl recently. I opened up my copy of Pyschedelic Pill. The packaging is nice overall, but I was annoyed with the lack of a download. You're right, for that price, they should have included one. Now I'm going to have to rip it myself. The other thing that irritated me was the fact that I can't, for the life of me, get records 1 or 3 back into the jacket, as the fit is way too tight. Did you experience this, too?

I just got the new Lumerians 12" Horizon Structures EP in the mail, so I'm looking forward to checking that out (again, no download code).

I bought the new Scott Walker LP, too, and am slowly absorbing that one, as it did come with a download code and I've been able to listen to it on the train during my commute.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by redcloud »

I'm going to add to my list...

Best reissue:


Crystal Syphon - 'Family Evil'.

Ok, so technically it's not a reissue as this band never actually released a full length LP. What this record is though is a revelation of odds and sods. These guys were one of the more obscure second/third tier Bay Area 60's bands whose name appears on a few posters. The record compiles a handful of studio cuts with some live stuff and apparently there is even more in the can that should be released soon. While I still don't agree with the Byrds or Beatles comparisons what I will say is these guys have a '68 QMS sound or even CJ & the Fish at their headiest. They also remind me of, at times, HP Lovecraft and The Frumious Bandersnatch (another 68/69 2nd tier SF band). The grooves contain a very heady mix of west coast acid rock that has some tremendous interplay between the guitarists.

Not all of these really obscure bands live up to the hype that record labels and dealers put on them. But, this one is easily one of the better "mythical status" bands whose music has been unearthed and released to the public.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by zaltakid2000 »

in no order (except for swans)

swans - the seer
spiritualized - sweet heart, sweet light
hoax - 7"s
warthog - chain wallet sessions
animal collective - centipede hz
white lung - sorry
guardian alien - see the world given to a one love entity
starring - abcdefg...
death grips - the money store
anna von hausswolff - ceremony
the men - open your heart
metz - metz
flying lotus - until the quiet comes
extra life - dream seeds
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by toomilk »

Also no order:

The Men - Open Your Heart
Spiritualized - SHSL
Goat - World Music
BJM - Aufheben
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Meat and Bone
Swans - The Seer
Moon Duo - Circles
Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
Cult of Youth - Love Will Prevail
Guided By Voices - Class Clown Spots a UFO
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by nghst »

Sweet Heart Sweet Light made at least 3 top 10 critics' lists this year. I found this out at metacritic.com.

SHSL comes in at #9 in MTV's Bigger Than The Sound rankings: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/169882 ... 2012.jhtml

It comes in 5th for WBEZ.org blogger Jim DeRogatis: http://www.wbez.org/blogs/jim-derogatis ... 012-104230

And finally it gets 4th in NPR Music's Stephen Thompson's list: http://www.npr.org/blogs/bestmusic2012/ ... ms-of-2012
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by moop »

i dont have much to add to this (pretty comprehensive) list except that i love the new antlers 'undersea' EP and the new Bat For Lashes album. From memory, the BFL has maybe a couple of less interesting tracks, but the majority of it is incredible. the production is lush and experimental. it has some wonderful psychedelic synths, dark and emotional songs, weird gnome-like creatures and jaw-dropping (and crystal clear) vocals. the opening track 'lilies' is sublime. on the whole it's probably a bit too 'pop' for some on here, but worth giving a try.

the antlers EP is more spacey and freeform than the albums, with the vocals merging withe looping reverby guitar with other instruments wandering in and out of the mix. hypnotic!
I think perhaps it helps that i recently treated myself to some proper headphones :D

oh and one of my favourite music videos of (last) year: http://vimeo.com/53520224

Happy New Year everyone!
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by shalloboi »

i made this mix of my favourites of this year- it would actually fit on a CD for a change.

http://www.mixcloud.com/shalloboi/best-of-2012/

1. i'm gone- tamaryn- 'tender new signs'
2. will we be scared?- thee oh sees- 'putrifiers ii'
3. balance yr heart- white fence- 'family perfume vol. 1'
4. wave goodbye- ty segall- 'slaughterhouse'
5. free action- moon duo- 'circles'
6. summer chills- radar eyes- 's/t'
7. i am what i am- spiritualized- 'sweet heart, sweet light'
8. i want to hold your other hand- the brian jonestown massacre- 'aufheben'
9. feels like we only go backwards- tame impala- 'lonersim'
10. only heather- wild nothing- 'nocturne'
11. southern heart- the walkmen- 'heaven'
12. rock races- sic alps- 's/t'
13. your ghost is not enough- jessica bailiff- 'at the down-turned jagged rim of the sky'
14. varud- sigur rós- 'valtari'
15. all i can- sharon van etten- 'tramp'
16. irene- beach house- 'bloom'
17. ashen snow- dirty three- 'toward the low sun'
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by BzaInSpace »

Like everything in my life at the moment I'm running behind with stuff... but y'know what, it is just stuff. But - before the 'Best of 2013' lists appear have to post these up - it's a Spiritualized Messageboad tradition!

NEW

Andrew Weatherall - Masterpiece
James Luther Dickinson & The North Mississippi Allstars - I'm Not Dead I'm Gone
Neneh Cherry & The Thing - The Cherry Thing
Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio
Current Value - Quantum Physics
Black Music Disaster - Black Music Disaster
Betty LaVette - Thankful 'N' Thoughtful
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - Lawless OST
Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
The Orb & Lee 'Scratch' Perry - The Orbserver In The Star House
Torche - Harmoniacraft
Surgeon - Breaking The Frame
Deathgrips - The Money Store
Deathgrips - No Love Deep Web
Sic Alps - Sic Alps
Andy Stott - Luxury Problems
DJ Sneak - Fabric 62
Goat - World Music

Some totally amazing music this year, pretty hard to list all the stuff I've liked to be honest (that Weatherall triple-album/comp/mix contains whole universes for a start - cosmic disco indeed!). There have also been a few disappointments, particularly from some I would consider real heavyweight talent... There have been dips in the year where I was just listening to the same stuff quite a lot, but it's good to live and breathe with some records for a while. Talking of which, and in no mere honorable mention either, but my absolute album of the year has to be (what else?)

Spiritualized - Sweet Heart/Sweet Light

What can I say... I've sort of being living under various bubbles this year and really a year of extremes, highs and lows, really great and really horrible. The last quarter was unsurpassed by anything I've experienced before really Anyway. What I will say is that I am very grateful this record and this music exists at this time and in this life as it's really been there all the way. It's never let me down. It feels like it's always been around now, but the awesome moments of hearing that stuff fresh was extraordinary, and as some of you'll know, a drug like no other... getting lost in this total maelstrom of chaos and feedback and most of an orchestra plugging away and this deep, dark, primitve bassline and meanwhile this deadpan voice in the middle of it all... I live for moments like hearing 'Headin' For The Top Now', totally new for me in the perfect environment and for me it was very emotional indeed - so glad I wasn't tempted by amazon previews/streams/dls whatever. I got to the end of Side B and had to take a break for a bit before starting the next disc. Even the lyrics to me now have layers of meaning and stuff and I usually don't care about the lyrics.

I'm glad too I've managed to actually fulfill the listening suggestion on the sleeve many times since then. It fucking rocks. Cheers Jason.

NEW OLD MUSIC

Dion - Complete Lawrie Singles
Dion - Wonder Where I'm Bound
CAN The Lost Tapes
John Coltrane - Ascension
John Coltrane - Infinity
King Tubby - Classics Chapter 3 : The Lost Midnight Rock Dubs
Beach Boys - Smile!
Miles Davis - "Plugged Nickel" box
Jerry Lee Lewis - I'm On Fire
Lee 'Scratch' Perry and Friends - Disco Devil: The Jamaican Discomixes
Lee Hazlewood - A Safe House For Tigers
Captain Beefheart - Bat Chain Puller
Johnny Jenkins - Ton-Ton Macoute!
Roxy Music - Stranded

Plenty more probably - should mention the early 70s Herbie Hancock/Mwanishi band stuff, mostly new to me and out of this world,

The 'greatest hit' goes to the stupendous Link Wray set Three Track Shack. Astounding stuff indeed. Who knew? Heard about this early this year from a reliable source, then it started popping up everywhere, a track is even covered on that Lawless soundtrack. Best of all, I received a copy of the S/T original vinyl album that part makes up this comp from a friend in the US - THANK YOU! 'La De Da' makes me all kinds of happy and sounds like an inspired collaboration between the Rolling Stones and Spiritualized in your back yard. Awesome...
O P 8
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by spzretent »

BzaInSpace wrote:
NEW OLD MUSIC

The 'greatest hit' goes to the stupendous Link Wray set Three Track Shack. Astounding stuff indeed. Who knew? Heard about this early this year from a reliable source, then it started popping up everywhere, a track is even covered on that Lawless soundtrack. Best of all, I received a copy of the S/T original vinyl album that part makes up this comp from a friend in the US - THANK YOU! 'La De Da' makes me all kinds of happy and sounds like an inspired collaboration between the Rolling Stones and Spiritualized in your back yard. Awesome...
:wink:
As I explained to someone after you turned me onto this record. This record is a life changer. Plain and simple. Everytime I see one reasonably priced I buy it because someone should aprreciate it and own it. I just gave another as a Christmas gift and the person was floored. I love that.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by johnnyboy »

spzretent wrote:
BzaInSpace wrote:
NEW OLD MUSIC

The 'greatest hit' goes to the stupendous Link Wray set Three Track Shack. Astounding stuff indeed. Who knew? Heard about this early this year from a reliable source, then it started popping up everywhere, a track is even covered on that Lawless soundtrack. Best of all, I received a copy of the S/T original vinyl album that part makes up this comp from a friend in the US - THANK YOU! 'La De Da' makes me all kinds of happy and sounds like an inspired collaboration between the Rolling Stones and Spiritualized in your back yard. Awesome...
:wink:
As I explained to someone after you turned me onto this record. This record is a life changer. Plain and simple. Everytime I see one reasonably priced I buy it because someone should aprreciate it and own it. I just gave another as a Christmas gift and the person was floored. I love that.
I take it we're talking about this baby http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrays-Three-Tra ... 860&sr=8-1

Knowing what I know about you two via this site, trusted opinions and all that......I reckon it'll soon be in my shopping basket. Any comments regarding the customer who queries the tracklisting error?

Beans & Fatback? I'm guessing Primal Scream know all about this track after naming a remix (better than the original) of Country Girl after it.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Hofstadter »

I'm bad with best of lists, but for once, I have something even better... just a straight up favorite song of the year.

No way around it. Pure catharsis. Soothing, uplifting, emotional, all at once... and a nice jam at the end (although when it was extended out live, the jam section was much longer/adventurous/all over the place)...

The rest of the album, ultimately, was just okay, but this is Very different than pretty much all of their stuff - I mean there is ACOUSTIC GUITAR! and VOCALS! and yet it is easily my favorite thing they have ever done...

Eternal Tapestry --> Sand Into Rain...


there was so much stuff I had a blast with this year though, a best of list would be v. difficult. I might try in a little bit.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by spzretent »

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/f ... eature=708
I always like to see how many of these I own/owned(in the case of Jack White's LP).
13 this year.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by runcible »

spzretent wrote:http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/f ... eature=708
I always like to see how many of these I own/owned(in the case of Jack White's LP).
13 this year.
6 for me.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by Shinesalight »

I've got 15 of these. Blimey, I've bought more new music than I thought I had this year, especially when you add on what's not on that list too.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by BzaInSpace »

johnnyboy wrote:
spzretent wrote: As I explained to someone after you turned me onto this record. This record is a life changer. Plain and simple. Everytime I see one reasonably priced I buy it because someone should aprreciate it and own it. I just gave another as a Christmas gift and the person was floored. I love that.
I take it we're talking about this baby http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrays-Three-Tra ... 860&sr=8-1

Knowing what I know about you two via this site, trusted opinions and all that......I reckon it'll soon be in my shopping basket. Any comments regarding the customer who queries the tracklisting error?

Beans & Fatback? I'm guessing Primal Scream know all about this track after naming a remix (better than the original) of Country Girl after it.
Life changer? Damn right Alan. It's that good. Was listening to it today in the car while the snow came down and it sounded positively euphoric. What a record. I'd easily put this up there with the classic Stones stuff. Probably above. Said something similar in another thread tonight but there ya go... The original Link Wray record sleeve is something else though, with the cool die-cut...

Johnny - yep, that's it alright. Bizarrely enough I never noticed that about the track on the 2nd disc, guess this reviewer knew the original Beans & Fatback album well, but for me the whole double disc set was new. Not convinced that reviewer was justified in giving the album 3/5 on there even if there in an error with that track. The curse of the Amazon review continues...

And The Scream? Reckon they must have heard these a few times - some of the feel of this music filters through on stuff on Give Out... and bizarrely enough stuff like 'We're Gonna Boogie' on Riot.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by shalloboi »

spzretent wrote:http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/f ... eature=708
I always like to see how many of these I own/owned(in the case of Jack White's LP).
13 this year.
i own 19 of these- how did that happen?! there are still a handful that aren't on their list that i bought too.
i like that they have the disappears record in their list- it's nice to see it getting some love outside of chicago.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by angelsighs »

only 7 for me, although a fair few others I've still got my eye on
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by sunray »

runcible wrote:
spzretent wrote:http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/f ... eature=708
I always like to see how many of these I own/owned(in the case of Jack White's LP).
13 this year.
6 for me.
5 for me.
Plus another 13 illegally downloaded.
Nineteen...Nineteen...Six Five
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by mc »

Even now, not even two months after posting my initial attempt, things have changed. Only one new entry: the Mogwai remix album turned out to be surprisingly good. Ultrasound's second album remains a mostly-ignored triumphant return - I urge everyone here to take the plunge and give it a whirl.

My admiration for The Twilight Sad's latest album has grown immeasurably over the last month; Dylan Carlson's solo album (purchased directly from the man himself after a wonderful half-hour discussion about the stone circles and megaliths of Britain) also reveals extra nuances and subtleties with every listen, and I actually prefer it to 2012's also wonderful Earth release. I'd only listened to Eno's "Lux" once before placing it in my original chart, but repeated plays reveals it as one of his finest works for years. I've managed to devote more concentrated listening time to "The Seer"; it's a punishing listening experience, but immensely rewarding too.

And sadly, there's SHSL. As much as I hate to admit it, I've grown less and less interested in this record as the year has progressed. Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful songs there (it still makes my top 10!) but too much of it is slight, syrupy, trite and redundant IMHO. I don't know what direction Jason is going to take next, but frankly I feel he's taken his current "thing" too far. Please, Spaceman: no more ballads, no more Jesus, no more "coming down" or "going down" or "slow" or "fire", and no more "Lord, Can You Hear Me?"-esque arpeggiated songs in D, A and G. That said, I will always buy a new Spaceman record, because I know what he's capable of.

Anyway, the new-ish list:

1) Ultrasound - Play For Today
2) The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know
3) drcarlsonalbion - La Strega And The Cunning Man In The Smoke
4) Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
5) Burial - Kindred EP
6) Brian Eno - Lux
7) Earth - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II
8) Swans - The Seer
9) Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
10) Spiritualized - Sweet Heart Sweet Light
11) Mogwai - A Wrenched Virile Lore
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by TheWarmth »

No more ballads? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't see that happening. I also am of the opinion that the ballads are some of the strongest songs on SHSL. As far as the language that Jason uses for his lyrics, I wouldn't expect any major left turns in the future, either. He's established his vocabulary and it's something that's I've come to accept and appreciate. Those are the colors of his palette.
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Re: Best of lists.....

Post by mc »

TheWarmth wrote:No more ballads? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't see that happening. I also am of the opinion that the ballads are some of the strongest songs on SHSL. As far as the language that Jason uses for his lyrics, I wouldn't expect any major left turns in the future, either. He's established his vocabulary and it's something that's I've come to accept and appreciate. Those are the colors of his palette.
No, I'm not expecting either, to be honest - last night's post was a bit of a drunken plea :D Don't get me wrong, he's written some wonderful ballads - for example, on SHSL I very much enjoy Life Is A Problem and So Long You Pretty Thing (well, it's ballad-esque, I guess...) and his ballads on Let It Come Down are uniformly fantastic. Nevertheless, I feel as though he's writing himself into a corner now. When I listen to the likes of Too Late, Freedom, Life Is A Problem, Borrowed Your Gun, Goodnight Goodnight and Lord Let It Rain On Me, I can't help but consider them all essentially rewrites of one another, and all ultimately derived from Lord Can You Hear Me? to a lesser or greater extent. If he comes up with something new and exciting-sounding in that form, fantastic. I'd just love to hear a bit more variety from him - a few more colours in his pallette, to continue your metaphor :) That said, I haven't yet listened to the new songs he's playing on tour - I should give them a whirl.

I think ultimately I miss the adornments he used to layer over his songs - the twinkling synths, chimes, drones, guitar effects, sparse almost alien-sounding horns/strings and heavily treated vocals. They gave each song a distinct atmosphere and personality. Most of all I miss the organs - every time I listen to LGM Kate's Farfisa swells and shimmers everywhere, and I just adore that sound and mood. I'm not saying I want Jason to return to his LGM/PP style of songwriting - I fully agree with his views on not looking back and retreading old glories - so if he ultimately leaves me behind then I can only accept that he's following his artistic vision, and that things change. I'll always take the time to purchase and listen to whatever he comes up with in future.

I do hope this dissenting opinion doesn't rile people - the world would be a very dull place if we all agreed on everything, after all, and I respect everyone else's opinion whether it matches mine or not. Overall, Jason's music means a huge amount to me, but this is the first time I've been more disappointed than pleased with one of his releases, and I think it's important to be able to express that. But ultimately, Jason does what he does, and he doesn't owe me owt :D
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