NEWBERUITEP!!!!@#21

[sellout250]

Pretty darn good. I thought the album was merely okay. But this EP sounds much better, and more wrought out.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/pq7y36

[tomatoesandradiowires]

So I guess the NMH forum is doubling as a beruit one now?

[sellout250]

For now. I guess.

[tomatoesandradiowires]

Cool!

[sellout250]

I do remember the week after the album was released, I heard someone actually made a beirut message board. Then i found it thru wikipedia, and it only has 5 people.

[kartoonz]

I'm just going to go ahead and say I think Beirut is terrible before everyone assumes that if you like NMH, you like Beirut. I think the guy has potential, I just wish at least one of his songs was a little more than the same four chords over and over in rapid succession. I mean, Christ, put some effort into structuring a song. I'm not saying he should be a Brian Wilson or Robert Schneider and write perfect pop songs, I don't think that would suit him or what he's trying to accomplish with his music. However, there are ways to craft a song outside of the bubble of pop that are interesting and creative and well worth exploration. I think there are better places to discuss non-NMH related music, like the main Elephant 6 forum. I've seen all kinds of music discussed there. Sorry to be an ass, I don't mean this as an attack on anyone, I'm just sick of all the Beirut/NMH comparisons everywhere when I don't think they could be any more different.

[tomatoesandradiowires]

I didn't even know there were NMH and Beirut comparisons

[rogersbowne]

here is how they compare:
both breath oxygen

[kartoonz]

Just go to the amazon.com page for Beirut's CD and look at the reviews. Every other one mentions Neutral Milk Hotel. Argg. Why? Because there are horns and it's kind of folky? Sorry, I'm not trying to tell anyone what to like or dislike (but I am willing to share what I like and dislike :P). I have friend's whose tastes I totally respect who like Beirut. Just please, leave NMH out of it.

[Stormx]

Yeah I've had the EP downloaded for a week or so now ;-)

[Plastic_hero]

Well Jeremy plays in both Beirut and NMH so it's not THAT weird to compare them.

[sellout250]

As was I. And they draw the NMH comparison 'cause Jeremy playing on about 6 songs or so on the record, and the horns and accordions. Then there are the people that say it sounds like it was written in 1859 and sounds EXACTLY like a balkan brass band. It sounds like guy trying to imitate balkan brass on a cheap tape recorder. Maybe that's what makes him endearing to some. I just thought some of the condon-adoring peepz here would enjoy it.

[Harnk]

Originally posted by Half-Handed
I was deeply unimpressed by the Beirut record.

no surprise there

[tralala]

i love it, i think it's a wonderful record... and they were honestly one of the best band i've ever seen play live. plus, common... he was NINETEEN when recorded that record! he's got a whole lot of years of progression ahead of him. i'd say, if you don't like him now, at least keep an eye on him. what's the new EP called?

i thought nmh fans would be more accepting of his music... i'm sure a lot of you guys don't like him just because a lot of people are getting into him all at once and we all know that it's TOTALLY not cool to like something everyone else does. but to each their own, i suppose.
<3

[Plastic_hero]

Well singing voices can change and mature as well over time. Obviously.

[uncle eggma]

kleenexgirlwoder!? wow, blast from the past! i used to listen to him all the time.

[Gokk]

the ep is just a gulag orkestar bonus cd.

i don't see why it's so bothersome that they get compared to nmh all the time. for example i can't stand cyhsy, or see why they get compared to the bands they get compared to, but i don't particularly care either.

on the other hand, i think it's kind of lame how this is doubling as a beirut board. take it to the generic e6 forum or something doodz

[Aqualad]

i honestly can't remember much about beirut's album... i listened to it once...

[pgrube]

Originally posted by kartoonz
I'm just going to go ahead and say I think Beirut is terrible before everyone assumes that if you like NMH, you like Beirut. I think the guy has potential, I just wish at least one of his songs was a little more than the same four chords over and over in rapid succession. I mean, Christ, put some effort into structuring a song.

It's interesting that you mention that the chord progression bothers you when all of Jeff Mangum's stuff it simple chord progressions.
Examples: King of Carrot Flowers - F, Bb, C
Areoplane Over the Sea - G, Em, C, D
Holland, 1945 - C, G then D, C, D, G
Naomi - Ab, A, E then E, Ab, D, A
Engine - G, A, C

[Stormx]

What about rubby bulb? Thats just in C...

[pgrube]

Yeah i could go on and on but i think i made my point.

[blaise]

Beirut is great. The comparisions to NMH are probably based solely around the fact that both bands drew from Eastern Eurpoean subject material when making their records, and both Condon and Spillane's horn playing are influenced by those old sounds.

[Gokk]

Originally posted by Half-Handed
I can't stand the guy out of CYHSY's singing voice either. Sometimes I think indie fans will big up any old sh t.

quoted for emphasis

[ж]

half-handed has been using a lot of hip-hop slang lately...

[kartoonz]

Originally posted by pgrube
Originally posted by kartoonz
I'm just going to go ahead and say I think Beirut is terrible before everyone assumes that if you like NMH, you like Beirut. I think the guy has potential, I just wish at least one of his songs was a little more than the same four chords over and over in rapid succession. I mean, Christ, put some effort into structuring a song.

It's interesting that you mention that the chord progression bothers you when all of Jeff Mangum's stuff it simple chord progressions.
Examples: King of Carrot Flowers - F, Bb, C
Areoplane Over the Sea - G, Em, C, D
Holland, 1945 - C, G then D, C, D, G
Naomi - Ab, A, E then E, Ab, D, A
Engine - G, A, C

While simple compared to contemporaries like Elliott Smith or Kevin Barnes, these songs you list are melodically and structurally 30x more complex than anything of Beirut's. Beirut songs have the same amount of time between each chord with no bridges or anything of the sort. Jeff stretches out his chord changes and weaves them with his melodies, incorporating bridges or choruses or other less conventional ways of structuring a song to keep them from being boring. It's totally different. The number of chords in a song isn't important, it's how you use them. Jeff writes with a beautiful simplicity, where Beirut is just redundant.

[kartoonz]

Also, I'm sick of trashing people, especially when Zack and company seem like pretty cool people. Can we get back to talking about something we agree on? Perhaps Neutral Milk Hotel related? I for one am glad that Scott grew his beard back.

[wiggin]

I think we can all agree that its going to kick ass when the Britney Spears sex tape is released. For the ladies, that's four hours of the guy you know from the kids' choice awards, K-Fed.

[wiggin]

Kartoonz, way to change what you meant before. The same four chords?! - Four chords rock when Jeff does them. The Beirut guy is only twenty and made an entire album almost completely by himself, so give him a break. Noone said its a masterpiece. Also, I'm pleased that you posted this EP but I can't open a .RAR. I don't know what it is and I don't have a way of opening it.

[ж]

i'm listening to this album again. it sucks, i don't know how you guys can tolerate it.

[Stormx]

Bah I really like it ;__;

[kartoonz]

Originally posted by wiggin
Kartoonz, way to change what you meant before. The same four chords?! - Four chords rock when Jeff does them. The Beirut guy is only twenty and made an entire album almost completely by himself, so give him a break. Noone said its a masterpiece. Also, I'm pleased that you posted this EP but I can't open a .RAR. I don't know what it is and I don't have a way of opening it.

"Rapid succession" was the key phrase in my initial post. Jeff doesn't play chords in rapid succession. I was elaborating on that and how their songwriting isn't the same at all.

[lou2ser]

http://static.flickr.com/102/282123723_34c0f6499b.jpg

Going through photos of the Austin date with A Hawk and a Hacksaw.

[Gokk]

Originally posted by ж
i'm listening to this album again. it sucks, i don't know how you guys can tolerate it.

you seem to be in the minority here

thus, the question really should be how can you not tolerate it?

[Aqualad]

at the very least, he's tolerable. I can't say I'm a huge fan. Especially not with the "he's only 19" approach.

[Harnk]

http://www.calarts.edu/~jwhite/gbj/jesuspics/angusassjesus.gif

[Stormx]

wtf dude.

[ж]

Originally posted by Aqualad
at the very least, he's tolerable. I can't say I'm a huge fan. Especially not with the "he's only 19" approach.

yeah, i don't get why everyone's so hung up about his age. if he was really that great, age would be irrelevent.

his ethno influence comes across as very dilettantish. it seems like he has a lot of interesting but incongruous ideas, and the mess of an album he put out is the haphazard fusion. gypsy indie-pop...i don't think it can or should be done.

but i dunno

[Edited on 11-15-0606 by ж]

[Gokk]

Originally posted by Half-Handed
I'm not sure he's in the minority - quite a few people on the Townhall seem to think Beirut's a bit iffy.

yeah, but it doesn't seem to be a majority just yet.

hmm, let's find the indie band that the townhall likes least. cyhsy anyone? tapes 'n tapes? i think the arctic monkeys are godawful.

[tomatoesandradiowires]

The artic monkeys are a band? I thought the guys from jet just got an english accent.

[Gokk]

Originally posted by tomatoesandradiowires
The artic monkeys are a band? I thought the guys from jet just got an english accent.

i think jet is way better than the arctic monkeys. at least i can remember their choruses.

[tomatoesandradiowires]

I don't know. I haven't heard to much of these frigid primates. I just remeber thinking "wow this sounds like a bad jet."
Wasn't there a ridiculous little panic about their "indie cred" because they performed on SNL or something?

[Mutineer]

This was actually pretty boring.

[ж]

i fuckin love the arctic monkeys


MALAJUBE CHANGED MY LIFEEEEE

[Stormx]

arctic monkeys don't have any talent at all... they didn't do anything particularly indie at all.

and I don't like jet much either.

And I just bought the Beirut CD. I could get the reissue with the EP for £10 or the first release without the EP for £13... Decisions decisions...

[ж]

get the reissue, no one cares about "first issue" CDs

[Stormx]

I know, thats what I did

And I just bought the Beirut CD

[ж]

oh, i didn't read that part

[uncle eggma]

i'm not impressed with beruit in the slightest. but to each his/her own.

[Xylemicarious]

Shit, am I the only one who likes Beirut? Gulag Orkestar is defintiely my favorite album of 06. I agree with the stuff about comparing them to NMH though. They really don't sound very similar at all. Doesn't mean they're bad though; if I went comparing everything to Neutral Milk Hotel I'd be quite disappointed in everything I listened to.

[tomatoesandradiowires]

Beirut and AHAAH were the sound track to my lovely dinnerdate two nights ago, they are both wonderful bands. I don't really see the comparisons between NMH and Beirut either.

[wiggin]

I don't really see the comparrison so much except that both kick ass.

[Xylemicarious]

True that.

[rogersbowne]

take this shisse to some other forum

[wiggin]

Thanks, cyber nazi.

[paulpaul]

the only thing i can say about beirut is
that guy can play a trumpet... and i like that

the ep didnt impress me too much, its not bad tho, i can see myself listening to it again