155 replies to this topic

[Sickpup]

As far as I'm concerned, this was the last substantial statement from what I now consider to be a dead genre.

When I listened to it earlier today, I was struck again by how effortless and comforting it sounded. Ultimately, it was pretense that brought down American indie rock, but there isn't a hint of affectation on this disc. Indie done right. So did anyone buy this damn thing because I hardly ever see it talked about anywhere...

[Undercooked Sausage]

Great fucking album. Very great fucking album. I wish The Wrens would make more records. Also, seeing them live was like the coolest thing ever and I wish I could see them again. They're old though, so they probably won't put out awesome stuff anymore.

[solace]

fucking amazing record... indie bands usually don't have all that great of lyrics, but the lyrics on this record are what put it over the top. i liked it right away, but i wasn't feeling the "best of the 00's" like many, but after about 6+ months and seeing them live twice (and a few times since), i was more than sold on it being called one of the best albums post '00 for sure. really curious what they'll do with this new one, i've heard a couple of the new songs live and they sound great, but they set the bar pretty damn high. as for not seeing it talked about, guess we were on different boards in '03, cuz it was one of the most talked about albums that year on a couple boards i'm on, and still gets a lot of airtime.

[Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ]

beats it by two months.

[solace]

beats it by two months.

yeah that edged out a number of records in the last 4 months for best of '03 for me

[The Good Dr Bill]

listened to it too much for too long, got totally burned out on it. Wonder what it'd be like if I listened now.

[gil-scott heroin]

those boys are reppin NJ, that's why that record's so tight

[Nick]

sucks

[Sickpup]

sucks

that you're wrong.

[Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ]

It doesn't suck but I don't understand the overwhelming praise. It's a fine album but nothing special as far as I'm concerned.

[n-infusino]

This is the album that got me into "indie" music in the conventional sense (prior to The Meadowlands I was pretty much death metal 100% of the time...an odd album to transition with, eh?). I dunno, I come from the Pitchfork generation of music fans, and at least in my circle of friends this album is a monument. A pretty easy argument for best album of the oughts, IMO, (hell, that transcendent guitar tone and lead melody on "Happy" alone makes the argument, and that's about 1% of the entire product). Moreover, the CD has this great warmth to the sound, very much like its on vinyl, and the lyrics create this wonderful mini-world where women and events from one song bleed onto the next song, and then affect another song three tracks later. I've seen the Wrens 3 times and they consistantly put on better and better live shows. Nice guys to boot.

[tystu]

It doesn't suck but I don't understand the overwhelming praise. It's a fine album but nothing special as far as I'm concerned.

I concur. "Happy" however is a great fucking song.

[Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ]

"Happy" is really the only reason I ever dig out the album.

[Pavement Ist Rad]

The internet is a great thing, you know. This band had barely any success and horrible, horrible luck, but when they decided to finally release another album, they became a huge hit in the indie world, all thanks to the wonderful internet. That's great. They were the highlight of Intonation '05 for me. Seeing them live made me really appreciate the second half of the record. Songs like "Everyone Chooses Sides" and "Boys You Won't Remember." I loved the album before, but I always thought it was a bit front-loaded, that it slowed down after "Faster Gun." Now I dig the whole thing. Definitely in my top ten of 2003.

Secaucus is great, too, of course. Better, actually. Just a great, energetic, late 90s indie rock album. I was so thrilled that they played "Won't Get Too Far" at Intonation. Fucking awesome.

[The Good Dr Bill]

yeah Secaucus is way bettter.

[Undercooked Sausage]

They're both fantastic.

[BobtheSquid]

yeah Secaucus is way bettter.

I just checked; this is incorrect.

[Pavement Ist Rad]

You're incorrect.

[The Sheck]

Apparently there was a different tracklist originally for Meadowlands. With 15 songs instead of 13. You can download these extra songs, plus the original mixes of three others here.

http://www.goodhodgkins.com/?p=33

Shot rock splitter to God, y'all.

[solace]

the production on Secaucus sucks too. while it has some killer songs, and they sound great live, it just isn't even remotely nearly as great or as cohesive as an all around album as Meadowlands, not even close really. it doesn't have half the flow either. and Nate, yah that alternate version was pretty cool