Nonetheless - Expanded Edition

[Ramzy]

nonetheless is at #6 in the sales chart and #7 in the physical charts, where units ACTUALLY matter.

I mean I'd like this to be true because it would favour the specific bands that I like at the expense of hugely more popular ones, but wishing for a chart without streaming today is like wishing for a chart without CDs in 1995. Streaming is the way people (including people who pay for music) overwhelmingly consume songs and albums and has been for more than a decade - there might be a discussion about whether the algorithms are right (there was an interesting opinion piece in the Metro about this the other day, saying the singles chart has become basically irrelevant because of the dominance of the same few records - which I agree with) but on a wider level I don't think the charts should only reflect the buying habits of a tiny minority just because it would reflect well on bands like PSB. One reason I think the performance of the recent albums is something to be proud of is that they've done well in a chart dominated by streaming and much younger artists - Hotspot did two weeks in the top 20, their first studio album since Bilingual to do so, and Nonetheless was their best peak for a studio album in 31 years with streaming in the equation.

[telys]

I've listened through the demo album (it finally arrived).
There are certainly elements from the demoes that they could've used on the produced album, especially on Loneliness. The voice is generally better on the finished album than on the demoes.

But I also think they could've fiddled around with elements from the demoes on the single/radio versions. There is room for alternative versions.

[Gabby]

I've listened through the demo album (it finally arrived).
There are certainly elements from the demoes that they could've used on the produced album, especially on Loneliness. The voice is generally better on the finished album than on the demoes.

But I also think they could've fiddled around with elements from the demoes on the single/radio versions. There is room for alternative versions.

Very succinctly put. agree

[Xakrij]

Expanded CD arrived today in Atlanta. Shipped 25 Nov via UPS Mail innovations and delivered via USPS. Ordered from US Store.
I'm current on all items for the time being.

[Old Soak]

nonetheless is at #6 in the sales chart and #7 in the physical charts, where units ACTUALLY matter.

I mean I'd like this to be true because it would favour the specific bands that I like at the expense of hugely more popular ones, but wishing for a chart without streaming today is like wishing for a chart without CDs in 1995. Streaming is the way people (including people who pay for music) overwhelmingly consume songs and albums and has been for more than a decade - there might be a discussion about whether the algorithms are right (there was an interesting opinion piece in the Metro about this the other day, saying the singles chart has become basically irrelevant because of the dominance of the same few records - which I agree with) but on a wider level I don't think the charts should only reflect the buying habits of a tiny minority just because it would reflect well on bands like PSB. One reason I think the performance of the recent albums is something to be proud of is that they've done well in a chart dominated by streaming and much younger artists - Hotspot did two weeks in the top 20, their first studio album since Bilingual to do so, and Nonetheless was their best peak for a studio album in 31 years with streaming in the equation.

Streaming is sh@t. It's good enough for previewing tracks. It's killed visit levels to actual town centres, accounts for 3% of the world's electricity demand and means fat lazy kids hardly leave their bedroom as everything is available now. It's meant the majority of artists struggle to make a living from sales so pushed concert ticket prices up to ridiculous levels. Its driven poor quality loudness wars and artificially promoted 'safe' corporate artists through algorithms. Its diminished the album format. Its a huge part if why modern life is rubbish and Room 101 territory. Balls to streaming.

[herts101]

Streaming is sh@t. It's good enough for previewing tracks. It's killed visit levels to actual town centres, accounts for 3% of the world's electricity demand and means fat lazy kids hardly leave their bedroom as everything is available now. It's meant the majority of artists struggle to make a living from sales so pushed concert ticket prices up to ridiculous levels. Its driven poor quality loudness wars and artificially promoted 'safe' corporate artists through algorithms. Its diminished the album format. Its a huge part if why modern life is rubbish and Room 101 territory. Balls to streaming.

Streaming is great. It’s put most of the music ever created in my pocket. It means I don’t have to trudge all the way to a crappy town centre to buy the music I want, saves on fuel usage due to all those journeys no longer being necessary and means kids listen to more and more great music in their bedrooms.
As I pay less for music than in the past I can use that saving to go and enjoy some amazing gigs and experience music live as well as recorded.
Playlists mean new listeners experience music from 7 decades of creativity, rather than just what a small set of record stores push and allow me to create my own “albums” with infinite variety.
It’s a huge part of why modern life is great - and I can still go and buy a vinyl when I want. Hooray for streaming.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NotInvisible]

The reality of course is that most people aren’t listening to playlists incorporating 70 years of pop music, they’re listening to narrowly selected silos of safe pablum carefully picked by algorithms, reflecting what corporate pop wants to push at any given time.

You have access to more music than ever for cheaper than ever, which comes on the back of most artists having no real chance to make a living.

And while it’s conceptually cool to be able to stay in your room and listen to a compressed stream on shitty speakers, the loss of social interaction is a widespread phenomenon that we now know is having devastating effects on culture and community.

Streaming is shit.

[telys]

Streaming is shit. Being able to download is not.
I can't understand why people stream instead of downloading and owning the digital stuff themselves and not being subjected to algorithms.

[herts101]

Yeah I know - I had my tongue very firmly in my cheek and agree with many of the arguments.

But - personally I do love the ability to listen to music whenever I want on the go, and my kids listen to way more older music than I ever did. Some of that is the history of pop music now being longer than it was in the 80s, but it’s also due to access which I never had.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NotInvisible]

But - personally I do love the ability to listen to music whenever I want on the go.

This is actually my primary reason for avoiding streaming. I fly a lot for work, and streaming is impossible. Add to this the gaps in most artists' discographies re: b-sides, remixes and ancillary tracks and it turns out having music directly on my phone is the superior choice.

and my kids listen to way more older music than I ever did. Some of that is the history of pop music now being longer than it was in the 80s, but it’s also due to access which I never had.

Your kids are statistical aberrations, though. Contemporary playlists are driven largely by "what fits in this box" algorithms which mitigate against the inclusion of older music, different genres, or even more left-field music within the primary genre itself. And in any case the pre-streaming world had its share of kids listening to their parents' oldies, the Doors/Zeppelin crowd found in every high school etc. Let's be honest, most kids aren't listening to 20th century tunes.

[somdigital]

While I still have full hearing capabilities, I will listen to CDs and flac files, putting away mp3 and streaming. I still can hear subtil differences on my (fantastic) headphones.
Luckly, I can put flac files into my car and listen with full spectrum speakers.
Yes to digital audio, but in flac, please!

[Too Many Shadows]

While I still have full hearing capabilities, I will listen to CDs and flac files, putting away mp3 and streaming. I still can hear subtil differences on my (fantastic) headphones.
Luckly, I can put flac files into my car and listen with full spectrum speakers.
Yes to digital audio, but in flac, please!

A hard but unscientifically tested agree from me, mostly. Since the dawn of digital, this has been a discussion laden with caveats. FLAC placed up againt CD placed up against lossless streaming. All are possibly equivalent if they all are sourced from the same master; however, how often does that happen? Garbage in, garbage out.

[Neilatrone]

Think we're straying off topic.....

[telys]

Think we're straying off topic.....

Great title for a PSB song

[Nervous Boy]

Pitchfork finally bothered to review the album and give it an 8.

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pe ... d-edition/