Staying / Replay Power

[lyst]

Do you think this new album lacks the same power of past albums?

Personally. Sad to say, I have not replayed one of the songs off the new album in almost a month now. I do not really have any will to. I guess its more of an album that I need to be in a certain place / location / state of mind. For instance, I was recently out at a log cabin in the wilderness of Michigan, I must have played the album through 7 times, but besides a couple of tracks, it does not have the ability to be played at a whim for me elsewhere.

This also brings a few more questions into play. I know that myself and many other friends that are bigtime BoCers were expecting some mind-blowing shit. We did not receive what we hoped. How important was it for this album to be on a different level to bigtime BoCers? The familiar sounds and depths of each track is fun and nostalgic, but I cannot deny I am somewhat let down. When I first heard BoC around 13 years ago, It was indeed mindblowing, like nothing else, and continually each new album displayed different levels of their expertise and ability to warp their sound in new and innovative ways, using different equipment and techniques each time. We come to the newest one. Half the songs seem like they could've been plucked right from the old tunes.

Regardless, I will always love their work and I did enjoy the new album. Even if it will just sit and collect dust. Although, I think that was somewhat what they were going for...

[AFX.NL]

And this really could not go into the sticky threads?

[Opothecary]

I have been on board since August 1998. I've probably listened to TH 50+ times. At this point, once or twice a week. This is still probably my favorite album besides MHTRTC, followed closely by Geogaddi.

At this rate, within a month or two, I'll probably have more listens to TH than TCH over the past 8 years. Everyone has their own tastes I guess, they've used some new sounds and techniques on this album to give it a specific feel (that I happen to love), and despite that, it's still undeniably a BoC album.

[bkillsb]

I've listened to TH almost everyday since its release. The love only grows greater for me.

[lyst]

And this really could not go into the sticky threads?

Which one? Not seeing one that quite fits, myself.

And personally too many stickies can ward off good debate sometimes, IMO.

[North by North]

Do you think this new album lacks the same power of past albums?

Personally. Sad to say, I have not replayed one of the songs off the new album in almost a month now. I do not really have any will to. I guess its more of an album that I need to be in a certain place / location / state of mind. For instance, I was recently out at a log cabin in the wilderness of Michigan, I must have played the album through 7 times, but besides a couple of tracks, it does not have the ability to be played at a whim for me elsewhere.

This also brings a few more questions into play. I know that myself and many other friends that are bigtime BoCers were expecting some mind-blowing shit. We did not receive what we hoped. How important was it for this album to be on a different level to bigtime BoCers? The familiar sounds and depths of each track is fun and nostalgic, but I cannot deny I am somewhat let down. When I first heard BoC around 13 years ago, It was indeed mindblowing, like nothing else, and continually each new album displayed different levels of their expertise and ability to warp their sound in new and innovative ways, using different equipment and techniques each time. We come to the newest one. Half the songs seem like they could've been plucked right from the old tunes.

Regardless, I will always love their work and I did enjoy the new album. Even if it will just sit and collect dust. Although, I think that was somewhat what they were going for...

I too have found that I need to be in a certain mood/mind-set, which is typical of a lot of music. I have noticed that while there are a definite few that I could hit play on at whim, this album does really feel like it needs to be listened to in it's entirety- to me anyway. I have not gotten that hit play at whim nearly as much with this album, but everytime I listen to it as a whole, I'm in love with it. So, it's definitely a full album experience for me. It all goes so well and gives so much body/context to it when listened all the way through. I don't think any other of their past albums have been this much of a cohesive first to last track thing. But yeah, I do have to be in the right mood for it. And when I do find myself trying to just hit play wherever I end up staying for the rest of it. That's a cool thing imo.

[Opothecary]

I too have found that I need to be in a certain mood/mind-set, which is typical of a lot of music. I have noticed that while there are a definite few that I could hit play on at whim, this album does really feel like it needs to be listened to in it's entirety- to me anyway. I have not gotten that hit play at whim nearly as much with this album, but everytime I listen to it as a whole, I'm in love with it. So, it's definitely a full album experience for me. It all goes so well and gives so much body/context to it when listened all the way through. I don't think any other of their past albums have been this much of a cohesive first to last track thing. But yeah, I do have to be in the right mood for it. And when I do find myself trying to just hit play wherever I end up staying for the rest of it. That's a cool thing imo.

I think you really do need to listen to the whole thing in one shot - and I'm cool with that, when I sit down to listen to music, it's always for an hour or two. TCH (particularly the front half) is almost a singles album in a way, where everything can stand on its own very well. It's got good material for hitting shuffle on. That is some peoples' speed, I prefer the full journey type albums and I think Geogaddi and TH are cousins in that respect, "darkness" aside.

[North by North]

I too have found that I need to be in a certain mood/mind-set, which is typical of a lot of music. I have noticed that while there are a definite few that I could hit play on at whim, this album does really feel like it needs to be listened to in it's entirety- to me anyway. I have not gotten that hit play at whim nearly as much with this album, but everytime I listen to it as a whole, I'm in love with it. So, it's definitely a full album experience for me. It all goes so well and gives so much body/context to it when listened all the way through. I don't think any other of their past albums have been this much of a cohesive first to last track thing. But yeah, I do have to be in the right mood for it. And when I do find myself trying to just hit play wherever I end up staying for the rest of it. That's a cool thing imo.

I think you really do need to listen to the whole thing in one shot - and I'm cool with that, when I sit down to listen to music, it's always for an hour or two. TCH (particularly the front half) is almost a singles album in a way, where everything can stand on its own very well. It's got good material for hitting shuffle on. That is some peoples' speed, I prefer the full journey type albums and I think Geogaddi and TH are cousins in that respect, "darkness" aside.

Yeah. I'm an album guy myself more than a shuffler. But at the and of the night before turning in I like to have a cig and a nightcap cocktail with the headphones on- so just a 10 minute or so thing- though it has led to me saying fuck it and staying up past my bedtime quite a few times. TCH is always a fav when I have those 10-12 minutes before it's off to the shower and bed.

To your point- I prefer full journey albums when I have the time. I do really enjoy Geo like this as well (well, I love every BoC album like this- duh).

[Opothecary]

And this really could not go into the sticky threads?

I think it's a good time for sort of a post-mortem (for lack of a better term) thread about TH, now that we've all been living with it for awhile.

[Stickyfingers72]

I love all the albums but I will say this.. Other than TCH I find there are a few tracks on the other albums I will always skip. There are quite a few "not quite perfect" albums in my opinion. Like for example how green calx on selected ambient works vol 1 ruins the whole listening experience for me. I wouldn't say I feel as strongly about the few BOC tracks I'm not keen on but I will always skip "You could feel the sky" for example.

I really rate TH as a full listening experience but more often find myself in the mood to just cherry pick the tracks I do love the most. It was obvious BOC couldn't do another TCH again (which happens to be my favourite) and I fully understand why. So that's why I wasn't surprised we got an album like TH.

I'm not always in the mood for TH but it doesn't mean it isn't amazing or lacks replay appeal. TH is brilliant.. It's just not perfect.



Global communication 76:14 is as near as it gets for me.. But that's just me.

[kid]

I've pretty much stopped listening to it now. It's nice to have new boc, but this album is kinda subdued, never really reaching the highs you know boc are capable of, almost as if they are reigning themselves in...and it would seem purposely so. It does however give me hope for future releases by them, there are glimpses in the album of their true brilliance. After the campfire headphase I'd pretty much written them off, both due to the sound of the record itself and the length of time it took them to release an album after it.

[d e n]

i really think of Tomorrow's Harvest as one big transmission and it's not the most heart-warming message... but it's real...

i am really convinced that any of the hesitation to listening to the record isn't because of BoC not being at their best...

i think it's because even when the listener is unconscious of the underlying insight it is still felt... which makes it really fooking intense.

jacquard causeway is a straight up masterful composition but it ain't no peacock tail listening

[miklatov]

TH has a strange addictive quality to me - I feel compelled to listen to it very often and can often play it a few times on loop in a sitting. Weirdly I didn't have this with MHTRTC and am only just getting this addiction with Geogaddi.

Whodathunkit, eh?

[Basefree]

Had similar feelings some time ago, so I shelved it, save for an occasional listen. The tide turned, and now a mere thought of getting to listen to it makes me excited. So I suppose it was a grower to me then.

There's still a lot about the album that I could criticize (digital sound, predictability, some lazy parts..), and perhaps it's the mere Boards stamp on the disc that makes it go above average for me, so woohoo fanboyism.

edit: I just checked my Last.fm, apparently I have only 18 full spins of TH altogether, which is not an awful lot. How about you guys? For comparison, Campfire has 45 spins, Geogaddi 57 and MHTRC 54.

[kid]

Had similar feelings some time ago, so I shelved it, save for an occasional listen. The tide turned, and now a mere thought of getting to listen to it makes me excited. So I suppose it was a grower to me then.

There's still a lot about the album that I could criticize (digital sound, predictability, some lazy parts..), and perhaps it's the mere Boards stamp on the disc that makes it go above average for me, so woohoo fanboyism.

edit: I just checked my Last.fm, apparently I have only 18 full spins of TH altogether, which is not an awful lot. How about you guys? For comparison, Campfire has 45 spins, Geogaddi 57 and MHTRC 54.

How do you get that info, I only see track counts.

[Basefree]

Had similar feelings some time ago, so I shelved it, save for an occasional listen. The tide turned, and now a mere thought of getting to listen to it makes me excited. So I suppose it was a grower to me then.

There's still a lot about the album that I could criticize (digital sound, predictability, some lazy parts..), and perhaps it's the mere Boards stamp on the disc that makes it go above average for me, so woohoo fanboyism.

edit: I just checked my Last.fm, apparently I have only 18 full spins of TH altogether, which is not an awful lot. How about you guys? For comparison, Campfire has 45 spins, Geogaddi 57 and MHTRC 54.

How do you get that info, I only see track counts.

If you go to your Library/Boards of Canada and click on an album cover it displays the track counts (maybe this is what you meant, but just to be sure). If you're mostly a shuffler it won't be that accurate of course.

I've also listened to an odd tune or two from all albums now and then, so saying 57 spins isn't the ultimate truth, but it's the closest clue I can get.

[zeoevil]

The copy I burned when the mp3s were released early hasn't left the CD player in my car since I made it. Although I have listened to the album at home, given the short track lengths, it has become the perfect CD for my short trips to and from work every day. I get in about two songs each way as I work about seven minutes from my home. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I am enjoying the album quite a bit given I am not overdoing it like I might have done otherwise.

[thepastinsidepressant]

its a very different album, stripped down, different production, different concept, vibe. i'd be more dissapointed if they gave us nothing. its something at least.

who knows, we may even get another album within the year or an ep with 6-8 tracks.

[paultomba]

I'll reply to this without reading the other replies.

But at this point; no.

I mean it's a great album, no doubt. But after an initial fortnight's scrutiny, I haven't revisited it since.
Maybe my listening habits have changed (I prefer podcasts & mixes as opposed to albums), or maybe the band's sheen have ran their course (I had MHTRTC on near-loop when it was realeased, yeeeaaaaars ago).

But I see this one as a tidy album among loads of others that have been released this year.

I'm sure I'll go back to it, maybe all the pre-release hype & treasure-hunts notched my expectations too high? But for me I'm letting it settle.

[Ai2Bi2C]

I actually disagree with what a lot of people said. Don't fret, I actually love the album; however, I don't feel the album works as a whole because of what BOC has said themselves. It is meant to be a soundtrack to a movie; the segues are nigh non-existent and it isn't meant to flow smoothly like many of their other albums.

To me, it makes more sense to listen to the album in whichever order you'd prefer. Be it from favorite to least favorite songs, or on shuffle, or just a few songs to please your current state of mind.

Whereas MHTRTC, Geogaddi and TCH were about the progression of (a) complex emotion(s), Tomorrow's Harvest tends to be about the many specific, singular emotions that are experienced throughout the scene changes of a film.