April 2021 Challenge Thread
- Thread starter Wicked Dreamer
- Start date
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
I feel like most albums probably are made with some of the sourness of the past or present influencing them.
I'll go for one of the more obvious modern classics on this one. The documentary Amy really does a much better job explaining how this album came to be, but it centered around the trials and tribulations of Amy Winehouse's relationship with Blake Fiedler-Civil - the bluesy tones came from a reignited love for the music as part of her relationship and most of the heartbreak from their rocky, substance fueled relationship and eventual breakup. This is probably making it sound much more charitable to BFC than it is (he just seems terrible) - ultimately the lemonade turned back into lemons as the success of the album led to substantially increased pressure to tour - leading to the end of her recovery period too early.
A completely tragic story that produced one of the greatest albums of all time.
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
I feel like most albums probably are made with some of the sourness of the past or present influencing them.
I'll go for one of the more obvious modern classics on this one. The documentary Amy really does a much better job explaining how this album came to be, but it centered around the trials and tribulations of Amy Winehouse's relationship with Blake Fiedler-Civil - the bluesy tones came from a reignited love for the music as part of her relationship and most of the heartbreak from their rocky, substance fueled relationship and eventual breakup. This is probably making it sound much more charitable to BFC than it is (he just seems terrible) - ultimately the lemonade turned back into lemons as the success of the album led to substantially increased pressure to tour - leading to the end of her recovery period too early.
A completely tragic story that produced one of the greatest albums of all time.
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
gaporter
Well-Known Member
DAY 23
LEMONADE
Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
I think it's fair to say that both Kid Cudi and Kanye were going through pretty rough points in their lives when this collaborative album was released. Cudi has always been open about struggling with mental health and depression and Kanye is Kanye. On this record, they deliver an album that seems simultaneously forlorn and triumphant, with the album being an acknowledgment of the hardships each artist has faced while also being a document of their efforts to move forward (literally so on "Reborn") from their pain and find a greater meaning. When the last song on the album has the repeated mantra of "stay strong", it's a message to themselves and the listener both.
LEMONADE
Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
I think it's fair to say that both Kid Cudi and Kanye were going through pretty rough points in their lives when this collaborative album was released. Cudi has always been open about struggling with mental health and depression and Kanye is Kanye. On this record, they deliver an album that seems simultaneously forlorn and triumphant, with the album being an acknowledgment of the hardships each artist has faced while also being a document of their efforts to move forward (literally so on "Reborn") from their pain and find a greater meaning. When the last song on the album has the repeated mantra of "stay strong", it's a message to themselves and the listener both.
Yer Ol' Uncle D
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
Play a great record that was born out of hard times for the artist in question
A record born from exhaustion, illness, separation and rejection...
PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me
Play a great record that was born out of hard times for the artist in question
A record born from exhaustion, illness, separation and rejection...
PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me
avecigrec
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
The previous six years saw him fired from Drive-By Truckers, divorced with Shonna Tucker and swimming so deep in a sea of Jack Daniel's and cocaine that his manager, fiance and Ryan Adams held an intervention and checked him into rehab. Clearly rehab clicked, as he came out to record what arguably still remains his best album to date.
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
The previous six years saw him fired from Drive-By Truckers, divorced with Shonna Tucker and swimming so deep in a sea of Jack Daniel's and cocaine that his manager, fiance and Ryan Adams held an intervention and checked him into rehab. Clearly rehab clicked, as he came out to record what arguably still remains his best album to date.
TenderLovingKiller®
Well-Known Member
Day 23: Lemons >>> Lemonade
Play a great record that was born out of hard times for the artist in question
Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog
Mac is a fun dude, that’s his shtick but he was definitely working through some existential dread and the prospects of getting older and he addressed these concerns here lyrically in his relaxed nonchalant way. Making it his most poignant album to date.
Play a great record that was born out of hard times for the artist in question
Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog
Mac is a fun dude, that’s his shtick but he was definitely working through some existential dread and the prospects of getting older and he addressed these concerns here lyrically in his relaxed nonchalant way. Making it his most poignant album to date.
D Jilla
Well-Known Member
Day 23 - Lemons into Lemonade
Warhol (Drella) died tragically in 1987 after supposedly routine gallbladder surgery. John and Lou hadn’t worked together since WLWH and weren’t even on speaking terms, but they got back together to create this amazing album about Warhol’s life (and then briefly reformed Velvet Underground).
Warhol (Drella) died tragically in 1987 after supposedly routine gallbladder surgery. John and Lou hadn’t worked together since WLWH and weren’t even on speaking terms, but they got back together to create this amazing album about Warhol’s life (and then briefly reformed Velvet Underground).
sahomerrocks
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear
Made during a tough divorce with his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye (sister to Berry Gordy of Motown, Gaye's label
), Marvin originally went into the studio to make a throwaway record since the profits were going to be split with his ex anyway, but he ended up pouring his soul into it anyway. It was a commercial and critical flop at the time but has gained recognition as time has gone on. It's personally my second favorite Marvin Gaye album.
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear
Made during a tough divorce with his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye (sister to Berry Gordy of Motown, Gaye's label
), Marvin originally went into the studio to make a throwaway record since the profits were going to be split with his ex anyway, but he ended up pouring his soul into it anyway. It was a commercial and critical flop at the time but has gained recognition as time has gone on. It's personally my second favorite Marvin Gaye album.
LeSamourai
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
I'm Glad It's You - Every Sun, Every Moon
This album was recorded after the band had a car accident on tour that killed their friend and videographer. The lead singer was driving, and this album is all about the guilt, sorrow, mourning, and moving on that happens after the death of someone important to us.
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
I'm Glad It's You - Every Sun, Every Moon
This album was recorded after the band had a car accident on tour that killed their friend and videographer. The lead singer was driving, and this album is all about the guilt, sorrow, mourning, and moving on that happens after the death of someone important to us.
Fleetwood-Matt
Well-Known Member
Day 23 - Lemons to Lemonade
FKA Twigs - MAGDALENE
Between heartbreak, trauma and chronic illness/pain, Twigs went through hell before this album. But she channeled that into one of the most stunning albums of the 2010s
FKA Twigs - MAGDALENE
Between heartbreak, trauma and chronic illness/pain, Twigs went through hell before this album. But she channeled that into one of the most stunning albums of the 2010s
Wes C. Attle
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Key
During the creation of this record, Nick Cave’s 15-year-old son passed away after an accidental fall off a cliff and he changed some of the lyrics to represent his immense grief. In this context, “I Need You” just hits me so hard it hurts.
Edit: Haven’t watched this video for a few years. You can just see him pouring out his soul in this performance
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Key
During the creation of this record, Nick Cave’s 15-year-old son passed away after an accidental fall off a cliff and he changed some of the lyrics to represent his immense grief. In this context, “I Need You” just hits me so hard it hurts.
Edit: Haven’t watched this video for a few years. You can just see him pouring out his soul in this performance
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Wicked Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Day 24: Cinematic
Play a movie score/soundtrack ...or a record that could be a movie score/soundtrack
V/A - Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood
One of my favourite soundtrack albums and probably one of my favourite albums period!
Play a movie score/soundtrack ...or a record that could be a movie score/soundtrack
V/A - Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood
One of my favourite soundtrack albums and probably one of my favourite albums period!
gaporter
Well-Known Member
DAY 24
CINEMATIC
Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d City
I don't own many soundtracks so I'm going a bit more abstract with this. This album is subtitled "a short film by Kendrick Lamar" and the way it is structured and how Kendrick tells his story does immerse you into the world of the album the same way a good film takes you into its world. Kendrick's storytelling on this album is absolutely incredible and this is one of the few albums where the skits feel very necessary to the album.
CINEMATIC
Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d City
I don't own many soundtracks so I'm going a bit more abstract with this. This album is subtitled "a short film by Kendrick Lamar" and the way it is structured and how Kendrick tells his story does immerse you into the world of the album the same way a good film takes you into its world. Kendrick's storytelling on this album is absolutely incredible and this is one of the few albums where the skits feel very necessary to the album.
gafacaode
Well-Known Member
Day 23: “I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
I'm going to follow @Wes C. Attle 's lead and play Nick's follow up to Skeleton Tree.
play a record born out of hard times for the artist in question
I'm going to follow @Wes C. Attle 's lead and play Nick's follow up to Skeleton Tree.
Wes C. Attle
Well-Known Member
Day 24: Cinematic
Play a movie score/soundtrack ...or a record that could be a movie score/soundtrack
Various Artists - Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack
Play a movie score/soundtrack ...or a record that could be a movie score/soundtrack
Various Artists - Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack
gafacaode
Well-Known Member
Day 24: Cinematic
play amovie score/soundtrack ...or a record that could be a movie score/soundtrack
Ok, so I cheated a bit on this one, but Max Richter does movie soundtracks too and, though this was intended for a ballet, there were video projections involved.
Also, the static-y interludes make me think of one of those post apocalyptic movies with a lone person traveling through vast expanses while using a radio to try to find other survivors.
"Scored for piano, electronics, and string quartet, it's an expansion of a 25-minute piece Richter wrote for a collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie. The latter contributed video projections of scenes from everyday life that ran behind the dancers."
play a
Ok, so I cheated a bit on this one, but Max Richter does movie soundtracks too and, though this was intended for a ballet, there were video projections involved.
Also, the static-y interludes make me think of one of those post apocalyptic movies with a lone person traveling through vast expanses while using a radio to try to find other survivors.
"Scored for piano, electronics, and string quartet, it's an expansion of a 25-minute piece Richter wrote for a collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie. The latter contributed video projections of scenes from everyday life that ran behind the dancers."