"Dial M" Thoughts

[reverb57]

If this is a superfluous thread, please by all means delete it. I don't know of a strict "reactions" thread yet, so here goes.

My thoughts:
I like the album. I don't love it, at least not yet. Of course, I don't know about everybody else here, but I've never really thought of Starflyer 59 as an "album" band, meaning that there's not any one of their albums that I think defines their music. I'm sure plenty of people here would disagree with me, but I tend to think of their stuff in terms of individual tracks (although "Leave Here A Stranger" features probably my favorite set of songs).

That said, I think there are individual tracks on "Dial M" that are some of the best Jason's ever written. I think "I Love You Like The Little Bird" and "The Brightest of the Head" are up there with the very best stuff. Also, I think "M23", "Minor Keys", "Concentrate", and "Who Said It's Easy" are great.

"Altercation" is good.

I'm pretty indifferent about "Taxi" right now, as well as "Automatic". Both of these tracks remind me a lot of "Something Evil", which for me was the most inconsequential track on "TV vs. SV". Neither of these I think are bad songs, I'm just not in love with either of them. They fit the tone of the album well, they just sound a little bit like Starflyer on auto-pilot (PUN LOLZ HAHAINTERNET) to me.

The only track I flat out don't like is "Mr. Martin". It's sort of pretty, but it's just an absolute buzzkill on the album. It just brings everything to a halt. Thematically, it's very similar to "Major Awards" and even "I Love You Like The Little Bird", which comes right after it. The difference is that "I Love You Like The Little Bird" is more complicated and ultimately more interesting. The music sounds sort of in denial of what the song is actually about. This gorgeous sunshiney pop melody with these lyrics over it that are just heartbreaking. Not that heartbreaking = good. That's not what I'm saying. I just mean that "ILYLTLB" does the same thing "Mr. Martin" does, only way better.

Also, I can't tell you how much I wish "Magick" was a proper track on the album. Why it was left off I don't really understand. I think it's one of the best songs from this era.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

[shadymugs]

It's interesting about Automatic and Taxi, because though they do sound like Something Evil, they are more poppy with more attitude, which i like. i like the overall new direction Jason went in with this album.  It's not their most catchy, or dreamy, but it is a good dance-able one.  All the other tracks are really solid as well, as you mentioned.  I like the fact that this album is simultaneously his most personal and most 'spiritual' while still being very 'blue collar'. 

I think the album is great. Short, as usual, but great.

[Metaphizzle]

I said in the thread about the album stream on Relevant that this is STARFLYER'S BEST ALBUM EVER, and I'm sticking with that.

I loved the demos when they appeared on Ghosts of the Future, and I think (with one exception) all the finished tracks are as good or better.

"Minor Keys" is that exception. It was alright in its own way, but disappointing compared to the demo. I think the loud guitar riffs on the demo version absolutely made the song, gave it a rock-n-roll swagger like the all the best parts of I am the Portuguese Blues condensed into a single song. The album version was basically a completely different song that by some coincidence used the same chords and lyrics. I will admit that the bridge on the album version is better.

One thing I really liked about the keys on the album was the way they were used as countermelody in "God Forbid", "Majic" and even "Minor Keys". It reminded me somewhat of Leave Here A Stranger.

I love "M23".

I like that the cello on "Mr Martin" is playing the same melody as one of the distorted guitars from the "plugged" version; I don't think there was anything like that in the unplugged demo.

I'm kind of surprised that "Automatic", of all tracks, was the least changed music-wise.

[shadymugs]

I feel like Minor Keys sounds like amalgam between that and Broken Arm now.  but i like it just fine. i'm comfortable and happy with the more synth/acoustic vibe the whole thing has.  i don't need all the rock guitars much anymore, but that's just me. to each their own

M23 is soo so good. 

[Metaphizzle]

Of course, I don't know about everybody else here, but I've never really thought of Starflyer 59 as an "album" band, meaning that there's not any one of their albums that I think defines their music. I'm sure plenty of people here would disagree with me, but I tend to think of their stuff in terms of individual tracks (although "Leave Here A Stranger" features probably my favorite set of songs).

I wouldn't really cite any one album as being more definitively Starflyer-ish than any other, but I do tend to listen to their albums (and EPs) as cohesive units rather than as collections of tracks.

The only track I flat out don't like is "Mr. Martin". It's sort of pretty, but it's just an absolute buzzkill on the album. It just brings everything to a halt. Thematically, it's very similar to "Major Awards" and even "I Love You Like The Little Bird", which comes right after it. The difference is that "I Love You Like The Little Bird" is more complicated and ultimately more interesting. The music sounds sort of in denial of what the song is actually about. This gorgeous sunshiney pop melody with these lyrics over it that are just heartbreaking. Not that heartbreaking = good. That's not what I'm saying. I just mean that "ILYLTLB" does the same thing "Mr. Martin" does, only way better.

And here's where the album mindset vs song mindset makes a difference. I don't feel very strongly for "Mr Martin" as an individual track either, but I think it serves a distinct purpose in the album's overall structure. Nearly every song before it has a spoken or unspoken undercurrent of doubt; "Mr Martin" displays that doubt for everyone to see, and rips away what bravado those previous tracks had. "Mr Martin" is the album's Darkest Hour.

Then, "I Love You Like the Little Bird" is a response to that. "Mr Martin" ends with despair over the inability to get ahead; "Little Bird" begins with that despair, but the narrator picks himself up and resolves to keep trying, because his kids are relying on him. That's why it's a "gorgeous sunshiney pop melody" -- because it's a hopeful song about perseverance in spite of circumstances. And this hope has that much more weight because you have "Mr Martin" to contrast it against.

My two cents.

[Jono]

I feel like Minor Keys sounds like amalgam between that and Broken Arm now.

You know, I think you're on to something there!

[stshores24]

As a broad overview...overall, I'm happy. I liked some of the grit of the Ghosts tracks better, but I like the expansiveness of a good studio album. Like a good friend said, it might have a bit too much polish. I'd like some more Gold-style unpredictable grit here and there, but hey, I was starving for some more SF59 goodness after My Island and the Ghosts rips, so I'm pretty happy with it. That said, I'm going to hold off buying it until Christmas, when a) I'll have some money and b) I'd be more likely to score a cheaper used copy.

[Metaphizzle]

Jason's voice sounds a bit rougher on a few songs; it stood out the most on "Automatic". Maybe all that damage to his lungs is catching up with him?

If Jason had gone with "Black Jacket" instead of "Altercation", what do you bet it would have been reworked into something even less recognizable than "Minor Keys"?

[Zelönka 22]

Black Jacket just sounds too distant from SF59 and Dial M, if you ask me.

I do like how unique it is, but it just sounds like another band.

[shadymugs]

Black Jacket was one of my favorite if not THE favorite song from Ghosts of the Future, for me.

[valleycat]

uh...the itunes download of the album has "magic" as track eleven!!...not even listed as a bonus track...did anyone who got a physical copy have magic as the final track?

[mintshows]

Nope....the cd doesn't include it.

[r_drew]

uh...the itunes download of the album has "magic" as track eleven!!...not even listed as a bonus track...did anyone who got a physical copy have magic as the final track?

If that's the case, I'm feeling a bit ripped off.  What the heck?

[Metaphizzle]

There's a link to download the song in this thread. MP3, 128kbps.

[mintshows]

You can purchase the song individually from Amazon (mp3 @ 256kbps) for $0.99 here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IBGJ50/ref=dm_dp_trk11