Jeroen's Micro BlogStuff Happens Herehttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=feed2024-03-13T17:32:52+00:00Chyrp/2022.02 (Coal)The five hundred and second album: #502 Simple Minds - New Gold Dream...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11262024-03-13T17:32:52+00:002024-03-13T17:32:52+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The five hundred and second album: #502 Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)</p>
<p>New Gold Dream is a simple album in a way. It's an electro pop album, drifting from track to track, and it feels like the vocals are secondary to anything else that's going on as you listen to it. There's nothing complex to it, just something nice to listen to.</p>
The one hundred and fourty-ninth book: #88 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickenshttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11252024-03-12T18:35:59+00:002024-03-12T18:35:59+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and fourty-ninth book: #88 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens</p>
<p>For a large chunk of the time I spent reading Oliver Twist, I was wondering where I would go with it. I knew the story best from the musical, which I had a bit part in in a school production about 27 years ago, and while there are some beats that are the same, the book does so much more. Charles Dickens isn't known for his brevity and focusing mostly on the first third or so of the novel made sense to create a coherent story. The second half does well exploring the characters further, but it feels the interesting satire is more present at the start, while it trails off a bit to the end, and a number of important characters get introduced so late that it feels like it's a bit too much on the fly. Even so, the deep dive works well and the book stays interesting and really readable throughout.</p>
The five hundred and first album: #501 Dexys Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ayhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11242024-03-12T18:35:21+00:002024-03-12T18:35:21+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The five hundred and first album: #501 Dexys Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay</p>
<p>Too-Rye-Ay's fusion of soul and folk rock is different from Dexys Midnight Runners' earlier album, still having some ska influence but generally feeling like a calmer set of songs. The addition of the string section, combined with the soul-like choruses add a different feel to it, which at the same time creates a more jovial vibe to the music - hearing Come On Eileen as the first single makes a lot of sense with the direction, even if it's probably still the most celebratory song on the album. It's still an album of good vibes throughout, which makes it pretty nice to listen to.</p>
The one hundred and eighty-first classical recording: #598 Gustav Mahler...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11232024-03-11T16:53:59+00:002024-03-11T16:53:59+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and eighty-first classical recording: #598 Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 10</p>
<p>Mahler's tenth symphony runs longer than I'm used to - the slow, sad first movement running as long as some other full works we've covered. Reading about the history, it feels like the ups and downs of the works reflect the emotional turmoil he felt - the slow adagio followed by a manic scherzo. It's a moving piece, not the fanciest, but it still feels like it's a lot more raw in places, ending on a contemplative note.</p>
The five hundredth album: #500 The Cure - Pornographyhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11222024-03-06T16:35:59+00:002024-03-06T16:35:59+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The five hundredth album: #500 The Cure - Pornography</p>
<p>Let's be honest, you know what you're getting when you listen to an album by The Cure. It is a dark, moody album, slow and draining. It's not a slog to get through, but it feels like something in there slows you down on such a basic level that it can't help but get to you. It's a well made album, the music is good, it's just exhausting to listen to.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-ninth album: #499 Elvis Costello & The...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11212024-03-05T18:19:09+00:002024-03-05T18:19:09+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-ninth album: #499 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Imperial Bedroom</p>
<p>Elvis Costello hits similar beats as before in Imperial Bedroom - quite smart, thought out new wave music featuring some good, memorable tracks and a lot of interesting variety. They're not samey - his range is large enough to bring a real mix to the album - but it feels like it continues on the same, strong track, without any of it wearing thin. Again, it's his songwriting that all of that is build on, and this whole album shows it off really well.</p>
The one hundred and ninety-fifth TV show: #872 New Girlhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11202024-03-04T21:38:58+00:002024-03-04T21:38:58+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and ninety-fifth TV show: #872 New Girl</p>
<p>It's been a while before I could back to this, having put this on hold around when we started this list. It's been good to come back to, though. The series sticks to its loose premise - quirky girl Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moves into an apartment that has three guys living there. There are some relationship back and forth, but mostly it has wacky, exaggerated adventures in a way that a lot of comedies of the 2010s have been, done so well. It feels like a lot are, as you get, expansions on their existing characters, leaning into the goofier side, but it has enough leeway to not push it too far. It's great comfortable, but fun viewing, even five seasons in.</p>
The one hundred and eightieth classical recording: #833 Benjamin Britten...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11192024-03-04T16:54:09+00:002024-03-04T16:54:09+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and eightieth classical recording: #833 Benjamin Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings</p>
<p>There's something unsettling about this serenade. Pears' voice, who did was written for, isn't quite as steady, which adds some emotion and instability to the piece but also stays a bit off putting. The strings are taunting and harrowing and the horn's low, deep sounds add to that. The work is sad and distant in a way that's hard to fully come to grips with. It's beautiful, but so haunting at the same time.</p>
The one hundred and ninety-fourth TV show: #75 Z-Carshttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11182024-03-03T18:17:26+00:002024-03-03T18:17:26+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and ninety-fourth TV show: #75 Z-Cars</p>
<p>I mean, Z-Cars was never a show I was going to watch for long, but it really didn't connect on any viewing. I understand that this show would have been more real at the time - the police characters are flawed, the stories don't always go right, there's no lesson to be learnt - but it doesn't quite hit the modern pacing even as it is edited to be quick for its time. Instead, the characters are unlikeable and the action unconvincing, to the point where it's off putting rather than engaging. While you may feel it gives an example of TV as it's developing, there's little to recommend it as a show to actually watch.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-eighth album: #498 Grandmaster Flash &...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11172024-02-28T17:46:11+00:002024-02-28T17:46:11+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-eighth album: #498 Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message</p>
<p>When listening to The Message, there's something slightly off about it. There's a mix of R&B and funk in there with its harmonies, but it also has some early rap tracks that don't feel like they fit quite the same pattern. In the current times, it feels like it doesn't quite commit, but with Prince and Michael Jackson being contemporaries, they actually make a lot of sense in context as the music styles overlap. I guess I'll see it evolve in the coming albums, but just as rock grew out of earlier genres, we've got a new hip hop style emerging here.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-seventh album: #497 Prince - 1999http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11162024-02-27T19:33:30+00:002024-02-27T19:33:30+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-seventh album: #497 Prince - 1999</p>
<p>So much of 1999 makes for a catchy album - it's hard to get away from all the songs that stick with you. There are some long funk fadeouts - still too much for my taste - but when it hits the groove and the song really gets going, the album is amazing. Even its double length mostly doesn't matter because so much of it is infectious enough to keep you going along. At the same time, parts of it feel forward looking, experimenting with electronic music in a way that hasn't intersected with R&B before. I'm not sure how many of those will move forward, but it does feel like an album made with a license to experiment and figure stuff out, with something polished still being released at the end.</p>
The one hundred and seventy-ninth classical recording: #776 Ralph...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11152024-02-26T17:16:34+00:002024-02-26T17:16:34+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and seventy-ninth classical recording: #776 Ralph Vaughan WIlliams - Symphony no. 4</p>
<p>This symphony's large, loud opening belies the smaller sound that follows. It never recedes completely, but goes back to be more stylized and more straight laced, at times quiet and menacing rather than being in your face like the start. It still alternates, with a very frantic third movement building to the triumphant finale that matches the start of the piece. It's big and bold, but that's what works.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-sixth album: #496 ABC - The Lexicon of Lovehttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11142024-02-21T17:18:12+00:002024-02-21T17:18:12+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-sixth album: #496 ABC - The Lexicon of Love</p>
<p>It's difficult to fairly judge a band when it's so clearly the inspiration for a Drew Tarver Comedy Bang Bang character... The Lexicon of Love hits all the known beats of the synth pop love songs, the bit of break up, the highs of love, the harmonies and the tortured metaphors. It's well put together, but to be honest, it's a lot and not always convincingly so.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-fifth album: #495 ABBA - The Visitorshttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11132024-02-20T18:41:57+00:002024-02-20T18:41:57+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-fifth album: #495 ABBA - The Visitors</p>
<p>The book contains two ABBA albums on its lists. The Visitors, however, feels quite a stand out work, with the music less disco poppy and more mature and at times a bit darker. It still has their sound, but it feels like they're experimenting a lot more than before. Considering what was happening in the group, When All Is Said And Done is a really powerful standout. Two For the Price of One is the only negative standout - aside from the vocals, it just doesn't feel like it matches the tone of the album anywhere else. Still, this is probably Abba's album that connects with me most, fitting my sensibilities most. It's raw and emotional at times, with so much breaking through the production that hits so much better.</p>
The one hundred and seventy-eighth classical recording: #411 Pablo de...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11122024-02-19T16:59:44+00:002024-02-19T16:59:44+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and seventy-eighth classical recording: #411 Pablo de Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen</p>
<p>As one of the shorter pieces, Zigeunerweisen makes its impact quite early on. The soloist's violin mostly tells a sad story, with a muted orchestra supporting but never drawing focus - it makes for a nice, gentle support.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-fourth album: #494 Rush - Moving Pictureshttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11112024-02-14T17:01:36+00:002024-02-14T17:01:36+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-fourth album: #494 Rush - Moving Pictures</p>
<p>I really enjoyed this album and, in a way that's not that typical of my usual feelings, especially appreciated the extended instrumental tracks. They were so well crafted and specific that they made for a lovely journey that felt like it didn't need the vocals a lot of the time. </p>
The four hundred and ninety-third album: #493 Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Clubhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11102024-02-13T18:30:26+00:002024-02-13T18:30:26+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-third album: #493 Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club</p>
<p>As a band that originated from the Talking Heads, we get a somewhat different sound from the Tom Tom Club. As much as it has its experimental moments, it also has a more traditional sound, with some of the harmonies and simpler songs really feeling like a throwback to the fifties and sixties. Under the Boardwalk, for example, really is structured like a classic track if not for the various distortions and synthesizer sounds that appear around the edges of the songs. It's very commercial, sure, and not as innovative, but it's at times subversive in how it does that. It doesn't feel like something that is its own major standout track, but it's so much fun to listen to.</p>
The one hundred and seventy-seventh classical recording: #429 Alexander...http://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11092024-02-12T18:12:09+00:002024-02-12T18:12:09+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and seventy-seventh classical recording: #429 Alexander Borodin - String Quartet no. 2</p>
<p>Don't have much to say about this one - it's a lovely piece of music, performed well. It's not too complicated, just one that's easy to keep track of and listen to.</p>
The one hundred and fourty-eighth book: #87 The Nose - Nikolai Gogolhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11082024-02-08T19:24:21+00:002024-02-08T19:24:21+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The one hundred and fourty-eighth book: #87 The Nose - Nikolai Gogol</p>
<p>The Nose was a quick read - a short story that took me about half an hour to read through, which felt right for the tone of the story. In short, a barber finds a nose in a loaf of bread, which turns out to be a commissioner's, and the missing body part lives a life of its own for some time. It's a commentary on class and vanity and how society reacts to it, with there never been an explanation. It's a fun read, though, even if some of the satire doesn't fit our current experience.</p>
The four hundred and ninety-second album: #492 Bobby Womack - The Poethttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com/?action=id&post=11072024-02-07T17:53:47+00:002024-02-07T17:53:47+00:00Jeroenhttp://micro.pongandbeyond.com<p>The four hundred and ninety-second album: #492 Bobby Womack - The Poet</p>
<p>The Poet is a more modern soul album, which means it manages to avoid the pitfalls that annoyed me in earlier tracks - with disco on the way out, the long dance breaks are gone and instead there is a longer real rhythm section in each of the tracks that's still quite enjoyable, and just a lot more variety in a track. I really felt myself bopping along to the music several times as I was listening.</p>