Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti- Before Today ALBUM REVIEW

[MrRobynLover]

A few great moments on here.

[albinocify]

hi, joe!

1:40

[MrFoxrocks]

As a newcomer to this band, I REALLY enjoyed the album 'Before Today'. It's accessibility, and the mash up of genres. so cool. 

[galactyk]

Light 8 is cool and I agreed with the description you made of the sound and influences, but c'mon don't bitch too much about some songs on this album being newer versions less good than the previous he recorded. Just put yourself in the position of a newcomer hearing for the very 1st time of AP'sHG via this LP. It happened to be, and 1 year later it still feels more like a 9 (not a 10 as this album really doesn't attempt to be perfect). This is a weirdo at his best.

[charleeinwonderland]

when i play the cd in my car, my friends usually say "sounds like animal collective from the 70s"

or something like that.

so your right, it sounds like a mixture of time periods thrown together....but in the best way.

[KeithCanisius]

Good review!

[liptakinator]

this album isnt for me

i just didnt get the point

it kind of sonicly interesting, yet its so vintage sounding its hard to appreciate it

the songwriting isnt my style, not very many interesting lyrics, some quirky cheese mixed in, not very much distinct form in the songs it seems like. almost disorganized.

anyway, tell me im wrong

[stripeyninga]

@liptakinator you're wrong

[danielmoreen]

This album is amazing. Great variety, cool sounds, good vibes, NOT CHILL WAVE at all. Great sing a long harmonies, off kilter bridges, finally polished songs with wit and punch to spare. I give it a very strong 8/10 to a light 9.

[kuriosity89]

I Can't Hear My Eyes after this album...

[PaulKneller]

I LOVE IT. DOLDRUMS, SCARED FAMOUS, HOUSE ARREST, BEFORE TODAY, WORN COPY... Hell, i just love Ariel pink. To much even. :) I had a dream I went to church with Ariel and dropped my headphones in the toilet..

[epagomenal]

Blah bla bla ba blaba ba blaBlah bla bla ba blaba ba blaBlah bla bla ba blaba ba blaBlah bla bla ba blaba ba bla

[Pooklette]

Maybe dial down the douchieness for the next review. On a more positive note I am loving the suspenders and t-shirt combo at the start. I wasn't aware that the special needs picnic look was back in style but now I do I'm going to pair me up some socks and sandals.

[droolies]

this man has got the critical style of patrick bateman, i am scared

[SawdidSpinx]

Wait a second, if 4AD is a major label then why when you type 4AD into Google is the first result: '4AD Official Website - The official website for independent record label 4AD'?

[eb0nikz]

@SawdidSpinx he meant it as in 4AD is a popular independent label. nothing more, nothing less. don't read so much into it dude.

[jarkkardison]

please

[sh83982]

yup, he's a great "lo-fi" artists.

well i was writing this comment just to say check out r. stevie moore to understand him better but it sounds like you already know him!

your review was really good and pretty on. I agree with you on liking his original versians better and the music styles and such.

[Helicline]

Dickwad, 4AD is a MAJOR label, NOT an indy.

And you're suppose to be a music reviewer?!?!

[Pooklette]

@Helicline You are wrong. And a little unpleasant. You are welcome.

[Helicline]

@Pooklette No, you are wrong, and obviously your nanny is STILL wiping your ass for you!

[Pooklette]

@Helicline Ooh fun. I haven't done this for ages so I may be a bit on the rusty side but my nanny informs me that I should call you a foggot, am i saying that correctly, and await your response after which I should question your sexuality again and possibly demean your race or nationality. Apologies if I take a while to get back into the swing of the whole moronic youtube argument thing. Must dash, nanny is prepping my chai tea late enema. Look forward to hearing from you.

[eb0nikz]

@Helicline the biggest groups signed to 4AD are Bon Iver, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, The Big Pink, Camera Obscura, Blonde Redhead, The National, Twin Sister, tUnE-YaRdS, St Vincent and Iron & Wine. i wouldn't necessarily call any of those guys major label signees. 4AD is an independent label.

[deadplanet22]

You suck! You know shit about music...dickhole!

[rainjammies]

look at this fucking hipster.

[evilsnakes1]

great songs on the album. I wish they had gone just slightly more mainstream in their production. too much reverb on this album. everything is so washed out. too chamber. would have been nice if they had pushed some of the mix up front.

[sabathman]

that dude totally looks like hunter s thompson

[DJtelekinesis]

album of the year.

[jainsworr]

BEVERELY KILLS.. THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE...

[deekismusic]

Probably my favorite album of the year.

[RobbyWithNoIE]

iunno, upon first listen I'm not too into it. But imma keep trying

[buttholetime]

*internet hug* to you bro

[skarocksemomom]

im getting bent out of shape and "WASTING" time because this album is the shit and it sucks that people dont get it... thats all!

[sugaray110]

Ive never heard of this band before so that may be why I love it soo much, I just can't stop listening to it and its always stuck in my head. I give it two thumbs up.

[skarocksemomom]

wow that was a waste of 5:27. some nerd telling me what im hearing in MY EARS isn't what it should be. "BEFORE TODAY IT SOUNDS SO OLD THATS WHY BLAH BLAH". please now go talk some shit about tame impala and other really awesome bands. throw some omar rodriguez lopez mix and you have insulted some ample talent. Ariel Pink has Steven Drozd play with them occasionally, you think Steven Drozd does bullshit work/expression too?

[Lexd1989]

@skarocksemomom ....hhahhhahahahahahhahahahaha­

[Kubiak04]

@skarocksemomom u wrote two very long comments on a video that you 'didn't like'. seems like ur wasting ur own time, bro.

[skarocksemomom]

@Kubiak04 no i love this video. it lets me know that there are people out there with an opinion far from mine. i just dont like the reasoning. does this guy even play music? does shaq do album reviews?

[Kubiak04]

@skarocksemomom ok i suppose i see where you're coming from, but he does talk about instrumentation (maybe in this vid not so much) but he does cover ground as far as basic song structure in most videos (hooks, melodies, lyrics, vox), see: his Woods - Songs of Shame review. If an album has a certain production style to it like this one does, he'll cover it in the review. he comes at all his reviews with an objective point of view which is why i keep coming back too. and he does play instruments

[Itasattc]

Hi, Joe!

[416maxnorth]

3rd and a half best album of 2010!

[vacantmoon]

best album of 2010

[chrishasalotofmoney]

look dude. its easy to go on pitchfork and give albums a cursory record review. how about you go legit and review some scraps that actually require some depth. its evident that you know little about music.

[dotd53]

This is my top album of 2010(so far at least). I REALLY REALLY love it and I was not an Ariel Pink fan before this record. I remember buying 2004's The Doldrums and totally hating that album. "Before Today" has it all and it's got this smooth vibe through out and I think it benefits from the clean production. He takes on all these different styles and combines them in a very creative and satisfying way and the weirdness present is all very tastefully done and instantly catchy on every track.

[kanggene]

@dotd53 No one bought The Doldrums.

[sh83982]

@kanggene i did

[steviethellama]

This record doesn't make sense to me. I guess I just don't have the patience for it.

[Quangocrat]

I haven't heard the album so can't/shouldn't judge. However I did see them live last night in Edmonchuk and they totally killed my buzz. I thought the frontman a bit of a diva in second hand clothes and heard a poor amalgam of Yes and the Doors.

[hellakooked]

Honest question, why does the term "Chillwave" make you want to kill yourself?

[Kubiak04]

@hellakooked when he said chillwave wanted to kill himself he meant in the context of Ariel Pink, for obvious reasons

[TeethTeethEyes]

Ariels thaaaa bestttt

[Saradrummer]

this album is insanely amazing

[fundy76]

Brilliant review of the new album.

I'd have to agree that much of his material was more endearing and interesting/mystic with the tape dropouts and inconsistencies such as bad timing and boiling, abrupt cut ins like 'netherlands'.

west coast calamities for life, neehhhville

[burgosjoaco]

oh! man. i love this Ariel Pink. maybe this album is TOO clean. but, it still great.

go on Needle Drop. i am learning music with you.

claps from argentina.

[CityOfDaughters]

0:12-0:15 was really funny, man. I mean REALLY funny!!!

[hinterstella]

Hate it. I guess because I feel like my ears are being forced to wade through a bunch of shit tracks before something good comes along. I really get turned off by this type of art house music. I get it, and some of it is good, but its all together not worth it when you have to suffer through the rest. Don't you agree? BTW I loved "credit."

[crazy8rgood]

Oh, and I would give this LP a 9.5, shit is insane.

[fustyjury]

Nice review. But if anything to do with "chillwave" made me make a suicide joke I'd probably try to get out of the house more

[monkeysnail]

I only watched the first few seconds, figured I'd say this. There are microscopic worms that can secrete enzymes that break down your skin, they can enter your footbottoms that way if you're barefoot in grass. From there, they get in the blood, from there into the lungs, then they use the windpipe to reach your esophagus and enter your stomach, eventually coming to rest in your intestine where they start a family. Fuck Reviews.

[snehesten]

hi, joe?

[TbTReviews]

I try to avoid watching or even reading other reviews so that I don't get a bias and can make my own opinion, but I do like to watch your reviews once I've finished my own. The chillwave part of this made me laugh because I mentioned chillwave on the track "Reminiscences." I gave it an 8 as well, and I guess for most people (including myself), ignorance is bliss as far as the re-worked tracks. Nice review.

[sharad4006]

Good review man. Cant stop listening to this album at the moment :)

[xMOE]

this album is so good it makes me swoon, more like DECENT 8!

[Shamoo28]

I found out about Ariel Pink cause I was looking for any male musicians named Ariel other than me, on iTunes. Lol I know pathetic.

[GabeGeer]

Puke.

[Caligula138]

All i have to say is

JOHN MAUS is > Ariel Pink

[actorfellow]

I really like Ariel Pink's Newest LP, which one of his other albums would you recommend?

[sharad4006]

@actorfellow Well I like the Doldrums as well . But Doldrums is a lot more low fi and may take a few listens to get into the album.

[fast350vette]

This album is what happens when Hanna Barbera circa 1977 hires David Bowie and the Residents to write a theme for the new hit Saturday morning kids cartoon, "The Adventures of Rocky Horror and the Gang" 9/10

[CuteChick344]

Fuck animal collective... FUCK MAINSTREAM :D ARIEL PINK SHALL NEVER BECOME FUCKING MAINSTREAM...KTHNXBYE * waves * :D

[theneedledrop]

@CuteChick344 *wavves*

[CuteChick344]

@theneedledrop TRALALALALALA ... sorry i was fucking stoned when i wrote that comment ... lol

[RussianThickness1]

@theneedledrop hahahahahahahahahah!

[CuteChick344]

@CuteChick344

TRALALALALALA ... sorry i was fucking stoned when i wrote that comment ... lol

[KYLETARBUCK]

@CuteChick344

What a gob-full of elitist bollocks! Why should you even care if Ariel Pink became 'mainstream'? You're essentially alienating an artist for the sakes of publicly declaring your own smug sense of self assured credibility. I hope the guy ends up doing fucking arena tours!

[MirumeXChaos]

@CuteChick344 you sound ridiculous.

[drewsky80]

@CuteChick344 you are retarded.

[MusicalEutopia]

@CuteChick344 You're stupid if you hate music because it's mainstream.

[shit311]

@MusicalEutopia dood ur right

[crazy8rgood]

@CuteChick344 Did you just say "Fuck Animal Collective"?

Fuck you

[shit311]

@crazy8rgood hahaa, theyre sweet as well as ariel and wavves. everyone out of these rocks

[Archetype77]

@CuteChick344 Animal collective is great, and so is ariel pink. If you have to not like something because others do, than that sucks for you. Enjoy not enjoying as much as others!

[Archetype77]

@CuteChick344 holy shit, you like metallica and MGMT. Wow. You're obviously a musical retard.

[coughlintm]

@CuteChick344 Fuck you, dude. not fuck Animal Collective, fuck you.

[drr12341]

@CuteChick344 no doubt this guys a d-bag why the fuck is Ariel so big now! Before Today was kind of a bust, but only my opinion.

[skarocksemomom]

@CuteChick344 just because animal collective isn't back in the woods on acid with a 4 track doesnt mean they sold out. music is going through a massive alteration of electronic elements. all they are doing is trying things and approaches they haven't done before. if you have ever liked a song or album by animal collective then you owe them the fucking respect. YOU are so quick to love someone then banish them out there if they dont keep giving you that replicated feeling/look/sound..SO CUTEEEEE!

[TIPPERBLK]

i like your rendition of 'interesting results'

[DoggieBark]

I can't help but feel like this sounds like Frank Zappa's noodling. Especially "Reminiscences" sounds like it was from Hot Rats. I'm not to hot on this record, but it has some good highlights like "Bright Lit Blue Skies".

[pkparsons]

We get to "watch" "you" masturbate for three minutes before you simply dismiss it? You forgot to call it a greatest hits record. I'm new to this, but he seems to have quite a body of work. Any musician with his history who ends up on 4AD should be able to deliver what he and the label agree upon as his first impression on the mainstream. Shame on your lame-o, know-it-all blog mentality.

I'm proud to hear this come out of my headphones. Now go review a Vampire Weekend record or something.

[AngusYoungGboy]

I am LOVING this album atm! I don't really know why, although I do absolutely love the singing.

[ElFamosoDemon]

Love this new album.

[series360]

is the song of hosue arrest man i fucking know that song. the one u sing at the start

[LedStroke]

Hi, i'm from Brazil and I gotta say: you're awesome. "Makes me wanna put a bullet in my head" hauhahu, hilarious.

[FNGRBNGR]

I'm with you on the light 8. I can't believe it's been 2 months since this leaked! Pretty sure the only new songs from his catalog are the first four tracks. But then again, I could be 100% wrong. Tracks 2-6 is all you really need to listen to for this album to shine through, especially L'Estat. I'm really looking forward to a reissue of The Doldrums and/or Worn Copy.

[bigmarthasan]

I had already listened to the album when it first leaked and I instantly loved it. I can't really explain why; I guess this album came just right on time for me: I needed to listen to this kind of music. I happen to know Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's work for quite a long time - and I like it - but Before Today just sounds right. One of the best albums of the year, at least for me.

Favourite tracks are Round and Round, Fright Night and Can't Hear My Eyes.

Good review. :)

[boess]

love you, but that "stasche" has to go or else, WE are over.

[theneedledrop]

@boess Sry. I forget to shave sometimes.

[elcakester]

i love you man, youre a friggin legend. the only friggin reason why i even bother to go on youtube anymore (other than to check out music)...... all the other stuff i used to watch on youtube sold out, and now its only you.... please dont sell out, hahaha

[JusteunMusicien]

@elcakester ah man dude, they totally sold out brody, why'd they have to go and sell out on us? fuck those other guys, man! sell outs! ...totally sold out.

[elcakester]

@JusteunMusicien yeah, haha. im a hipster, got a problem?

[astm37]

@JusteunMusicien hahahahaha great comment

[theneedledrop]

@elcakester How would you define "selling out." If you can do that, I'll make an attempt to not do it.

[elcakester]

@theneedledrop i dunno, putting 10 sec ads on your videos and adapting popular yet stupid humor... it was sort of a joke, hahaha. no but seriously, keep it up, man. youre videos are great.

[Jareco]

Another great insight. Bought the record today, thanks!

[baumbart99]

some of his stuff definitely reminds me of frank zappa. like "hardcore pops are fun".

people who like ariel pink should check out bobby conn!

[Bulldog22031]

This might be the best review you have done so far. Very well thought out.

[Irc96]

I get what you were saying about the whole "old" and "new" feel to 'em. I listened to a few tracks (which I did like to say the least). They do all have that whole...mixed sound to them too; a lot of different elements that wouldn't normally go together but somehow do.

The thing I particularly liked about it though was that I heard music that came from someone who sounded like a very experienced and well rounded artist, which is really rather comforting. Overall a good Album though.

[theneedledrop]

@Irc96 I think part of what makes the elements come together so well for us is because the era they come from is a memory for us. It's kinda easy to just mash all those ideas together since they all aren't separate events for us, but simply an element of "the 70s" and "the 80s."

[DistantSon1]

I gotta say, for giving it an 8 you seemed to have a lot of criticism haha. Gotta say though, ever since I heard 'Round and Round' a while back I decided this was the Ariel Pink I was waiting for. I can't really appreciate the old compilations that Ariel had before (I heavily consider all the albums he put out 'compilations'). They just didn't feel concise... unlike this LP. Straight ahead, official studio... Just fantastic.

[theneedledrop]

@DistantSon1 I did have a lot of criticisms. I love those compilations and earlier LPs, so it was a little disappointing for me to hear just some reworked tracks. However, the songs--even reworked--are still good songs, and I do see this album as kind of a limelight release for APHG. It is a good album, but I hear a lot of those earlier versionsi n my head when I listen to this album, because that's what I'm used to.

[ifonlywemovedaway]

Love Love Love Love Love it. Awesome LP. Now I'm working myself through his older stuff. Even listened to "Witch Hunt Suite For WW III". :)

[theneedledrop]

@ifonlywemovedaway No, what release is it on?

[ifonlywemovedaway]

@theneedledrop That was the name of the release. "Witch Hunt Suite For World War III" is a free download over at lastfm.

[theneedledrop]

@ifonlywemovedaway SERIOUSLY!?!? I'm there!!!

[ifonlywemovedaway]

@theneedledrop Did you found it? LastFm is so freakin confusing and messy.

[gurumed]

This'll probably be my favorite record of all year I just can't stop listening

[SaveAD]

I can't get into this album. I feel like it is original, and quirky. I love those two qualities, but I also find it annoying and overbearing.

[theneedledrop]

@SaveAD AP was like that for me on first listen. His weirdness is surely an acquired taste.

[ZRN959]

why do you add subliminal messages?

[theneedledrop]

@ZRN959 To tap into your mind...subliminally.

[deathspelloubega]

been diggin' this one, it sounds like the usual mad genius you'd expect.

[hightimesbruce]

Great review Anthony, but I don't agree. This album, at least for now, didn't live up to the initial promise of "Round and Round". I like some of it, but these retro-nostalgia trip records are getting a bit stale. I'd give it a seven.

[MrYeshimabeit]

I like the older cant hear my eyes better too, but, for me hearing songs like Reminiscences again after hearing the song a year ago in its dirty cassette version from their myspace was a pretty powerful experience for me. It was kinda like remembering a really good memory. I guess little surprises like that really excite me, and thats why i love ariel. Listening to new stuff even now brings me back to 6 years ago when i first heard of him.

great review!

[CLU10123]

What Tracks are close to Frank Zappa?

[theneedledrop]

@CLU10123 Some of the difficult guitar leads on "Menopause Man" kinda reminded me of Zappa, but what really made me think of him was the tongue-in-cheek nature of a few spots on this album. You know how Zappa would play doo wop music in a comedic or slightly off-kilter way? That's how I see some of the revivalism on this album. It's maintains a seriousness because of the well-written songs, but there's a bit of silliness to the revivalism on this LP. That's where my Zappa comparison comes from.

[CarrotBallSquash]

I love this album, chillwave is such a great genre. Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti is excellent chillwave music. This is chillwave.

[theneedledrop]

@CarrotBallSquash This is a chill comment. *blammo*

[msampson3d]

My introduction to Ariel Pink was your review of Round and Round which I loved a ton. I was really looking forward to you reviewing the album. Glad it got a decent review. I'll have to get this album

[4Colours]

I LOVE IT. So catchy, so fun. It's brillz

[rewindDUDE]

It's a good album. But i agree, not enough new material. And I prefer some of the older recordings.

[EarBudz123]

i say a strong 8 i really digged the originality and the emotion put into this.

[notsert123]

I love it. 9.1/10

[90sbaby92]

I have been waiting for this for months..glad u

approve,lol

[TittyMcFuck]

Best album of 2010 so far for me... Hoping it will get topped by Wolf Parade or Battles, but I love "Before Today"... 9.2/10

[theneedledrop]

@TittyMcFuck New Battles this year?!?! Oh shi-

[tittiesman1231]

@TittyMcFuck 

[burnshouse]

Great reviews turn me on to a lot of new music:)

[wdp11683]

your editing is hilarious. 

[theneedledrop]

@wdp11683 thx, bro.

[64chris64]

Why do you feel the need to put that disclaimer before the video? Were people really getting angry at you for having a different opinion?

[TheAJMetal]

@64chris64 People get all butthurt when you make a review and don't have the EXACT same opinion as them. Stupid, yes, but true.

[theneedledrop]

@64chris64 Nah, some people just don't understand subjectivity.

[cowmansings]

Just downloaded this! I've heard good things, so I'll give it a listen later on today. P.S. Awesome suspenders, bro.

[Jerdna3]

Holy shit, wow. Where did this guy come from? Its like when I first heard Daniel Johnston. This guy is amazing.

[Alex703rockstar]

I've read this was awesome. Never heard him before, I love this stuff.

[Threecreation]

HI JOE

[LfunkeyA]

thought it was hipster trash. listened to it. loved it. 9/10.

[sojirokaidoh2]

bitchin' suspenders, bro

[rsfaan91]

mhh i didnt know ariel pink i will sure check him out after this review,

[AgentNullify]

I'm going to check out this album right now, thanks!

[jgil1967]

hey anthony :p are you getting the new iPhone?

[theneedledrop]

@jgil1967 If I had money, I would.

[SushiGoat]

i gave this the same score: 8/10