edpercival.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Day 61. Ben Folds: Rockin’ the Suburbs What an absolutely fantastic album! Beautiful songs, lyrics and performance. I’m sitting in a state of bliss after the first listen and realising this is going to be a part of my life. 10/10 Thanks to my mate Chris for introducing me to What Matters and this

submitted 10 hours ago • 1 comment

Day 60. Dim Gray: Shards I was aware of Oskar as keyboard player with Big Big Train. This is a cracking album, vocals a bit like Keane, with luscious instruments and interesting tunes. I’m looking forward to revisiting. A warm hug of a record. The second surprise from Norwegian prog. Love it. 9/10

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Day 59. Mark Hart: The Backroom I saw him many times in his Crowded House days. His second solo album is solid, if unexceptional. His voice is getting thin, but playing is good. His Supertramp period is more obvious in a couple of songs. 5 out of 10

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

The cost of reaching net zero in the UK by 2050 is now predicted to be just 0.2% of GDP (about £4 billion per year). Spread this far and wide. It reveals Reform and the Conservatives' opposition to net zero for being 'too expensive' as just plain wrong.

submitted 3 days ago • 11 comments

Day 58. Opeth: Blackwater Park I enjoyed a later Wilson/Akerfeld collaboration, but this? The quieter melodic bits are terrific, but every time they hit machine-gun double-bass drum pedals and the Death Growl vocals my heart sinks as my ears bleed. 4 out of 10

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Day 57. U.K: U.K Very technically adept jazz-prog from the era of punk. Difficult to love the clever “look at me” noodling. First few songs dominated by CS80 which sounds horrible. Nevermore was probably the only thing I’d listen to again. I prefer song-led prog. 4 out of 10

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

Day 56. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft The 2nd most streamed album of 2024. I loved her debut (day 6). Amazing production with incredible attention to vocal sound, beautifully musical, yet bedroom soft. It is intimate with a host of different song settings. Definitely one for repeat. 8/10

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Day 55. Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department Having enjoyed Folklore I thought I should listen to the most streamed album of 2024. It seems more formulaic than F, but frankly why change a winning formula? There’s pain behind the lyrics, but too much repetition of song and patterns. 6/10

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Day 54. Jake and Abe: Finally! An XTC chum, Ben Gott posted this on FB. What a peach of an album! Effortlessly cool and grooving. A glorious Sunday morning vibe. Putting it straight back on for a second listen. 8 out of 10

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Day 53. Geordie Greep: The New Music Unlike anything I’ve ever listened to before. Clearly a very talented musician able to take all sorts of diverse influences and to mould them into something challenging, weird and wonderful. Shades of Alex Harvey in his voice and delivery. Thanks Martin. 8/10

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

Day 52. Craig Fortnam: Ark Last of 3 recommendations from @crawfordb.bsky.social . Quirky, short & sweet, folky, baroque and roll. A touch of Syd, Sufjan Stevans and Neutral Milk Hotel. I listened twice and will return for more. 6/10

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Day 51. Pattern-Seeking Animals: Friend of All Creatures Very slick, polished classic rock. Not a note out of place with some clever touches, but the Americans don’t have the wit or emotional chops to make the engagement that I’m looking for. So it ends up washing over me. 5 out of 10

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Day 50. Cardiacs: Songs for Ships and Irons Wow! It’s like a prog west-end musical. Madder than a box of frogs. One of those things where people who can play, pretend they can’t. Intriguing and entertaining- probably musical Marmite. But I really enjoyed it. Thanks @crawfordb.bsky.social 8/10

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Day 49. Fleetwood Mac: Heroes are Hard to Find Sandwiched between Peter Green’s FM (which I love) and the Buckingham Nicks vomfest, sits this album. Barely breaks out of its coma. Magnolia soft rock. Thankfully Apple served up Petty’s Last Dance with Mary Jane to save my soul. 0 out of 10

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Day 48. Mickelson: If You Can’t Be Right Be Loud I saw @mickelsonmusic.bsky.social in Swindon a while back. His new album is fantastic- great songs, great playing (even Colin Moulding on bass in places). Angry, melodic, punchy, challenging and arresting. Loved it. UK tour this month. 9 out of 10

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

Day 47. Nits: In the Dutch Mountains Recommended by @crawfordb.bsky.social who was banging on about them 20odd years ago. Quirky and eclectic-took me three starts to get into the right frame of mind. Uncategoriseable. Cast enough hooks to demand that I return. Sounds a little like Brandon 7/10

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Day 46. Oak: The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise Suggested by @richardthresh.bsky.social, this is classy modern prog which will appeal to Wilson fans. Vast soundscape, soaked in reverb. The atmosphere is dark, monochrome with a few flourishes of virtuosity. Mesmerising and involving. Loved it! 9/10

submitted 15 days ago • 1 comment

Day 45. Carole King: Rhymes & Reasons I’m amazed that after the huge success of Tapestry (my wife’s favourite album), nothing has stayed in popular culture from the two albums released in the next 18 months. Both this and ‘Music’ charted well and repeat the formula. Polished and laid back. 6/10

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Day 44. Wishbone Ash: Argus I did listen to this when it came out. A friend of the 12-year-old me was a fan. I thought it was rubbish then. Thin songs, wan vocals and noodling guitar solos still do nothing for me and I’m proud that I thought ELP Pictures was better. Bland & tedious. 2 out 10

submitted 17 days ago • 2 comments

Day 43. Ed Sheeran: Divide Awful start with white rap. Bland and inoffensive, MOR. I struggle to see how/why he’s so successful. I found myself longing for it to finish. There were a couple of songs (Perfect, Save Myself) Some faux afrobeat and oirish which didn’t help. Sigh 3 out of 10

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

So Bluesky peeps It’s time for me to listen to my first Ed Sheeran album. Which one should I chose? And why?

submitted 19 days ago • 2 comments

Day 42. Fightstar: Be Human Another suggestion from my son. A polished blend of hard rock (heavily compressed vocals, I think) with driving band, enlivened but occasional interruption by strings, choir, piano, harmonies. Lots to take in and will take another listen. Reminds me of unpeople. 6/10

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

Day 41. Field Music: Commontime Crisp, spiky and intriguing. I was recommended this by @martinboorman.bsky.social who’s been a fan for a longtime. Difficult to pigeonhole. A rich and diverse set of songs which demand attention and will definitely merit more listens. Heads/Dutch Uncles. 7/10

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Day 40. Candidate: Under the Skylon Photos from its recording came up on FB. I know @gralefrit.bsky.social from XTC. This just might be the ultimate wandering around on a Sunday soundtrack album. A great vibe and gentle, melodic songs. Reminiscent of Lighterthief. I’ll be back. 7 out of 10.