Honestly, the "painful noise" aspect of Swans is one of my fav things about them

Painful noise is a very apt description for the certain parts of the title track definitely. That part is also one of the greatest moments of the album. Right behind the last minute of Avatar, which is one of the most overwhelming displays of auditory power I've ever experienced.

But why pick something on the spectrum that's so extreme? The Seer is fantastic but it's not something that's exactly accessible and casual listening. I'm sure that if you chose to listen to something like Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors, Visions by Grimes, Celebration Rock by Japandroids or even Lonerism by Tame Impala you would've enjoyed your listening experience much more and probably would've made you much more eager to listen to new stuff from various genres. I'm sure there's a profusion of albums out there that you would enjoy, don't let that one album deter you from listening to new things.

Japandroids might be up your alley based on what I've seen from your tastes. It's still quite noisy, but the songs are as pop-rock as you can get (think Thin Lizzy with more abrasive guitars). Dunno how much you feel about Fiona Apple, but The Idler Wheel is another highly critical acclaimed album of 2012 you can get, very accessible, but still very good.

I don't blame you for your reaction to The Seer, it's kinda to be expected from most people not knowing what to expect. I will say that the title track offers the listener the greatest transcendental experience you'll have all year.

I listened to a song by Grimes in the Favorites of 2012 thread. It was noise, too, although not painful noise.

I might try Japandroids, but keep in mind that most of the indie rock I've heard I haven't liked.

All music can be distilled and filtered down to being described as just "noise". And try to keep an open mind with things associated with the "indie rock" label as that label can be used to describe a lot of things from a lot of different backgrounds and following the indie path can take you in many different directions. "Indie rock" nowadays is used very liberally. I wouldn't describe Japandroids as being indie rock at all, they're more along the lines of garage rock.

I'm not being hyperbolic or anything. That's just how it sounds to me. I do kind of wonder if this is what older people of past generations heard, listening to their kids' newfangled music.

do you consider that to be alarming? I'd be incredibly disconcerted by that.

If you want something a little softer and less "noise" I would recommend you start out with their album Filth.

Yeah, that album might as well be called Chillth

Well, it's been sort of a growing trend in the last however many years, as far as I can tell. It's not like I like nothing now or like I liked everything 15-20 years ago. Even my Mom occasionally likes a new pop song. And it's not like you wake up one day and find that your culture has pulled a disappearing act, unless you were in a coma or you're a Shawshank Redemption character. However, while listening to Grimes I did think that if this is where popular music is headed, I'm going to be so confused.

Garbage - Not Your Kind of People

There's a few decent songs, not quite enough for a passing grade.

6/10


Japandroids - Celebration Rock

This might not be indie rock, but it does have a certain sound that I've come to associate with indie rock. For example, the "guys at a concert harmony", for lack of a better description. It also reminds me of some older music (a little Blind Melon, a little Blink 182), just not anything I'd say I'm a fan of. It's not boring, but it doesn't do it for me.

5/10


Four albums in, and my top 10 remains untouched. If all else fails, I'll just expand it to a top 20.

Did you at least like or would consider this song to be in your end of the year song list? Truly one of the great rock songs to come this year/in awhile.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqaEQTi3rew[/youtube]

No, sorry. It's something I can listen to fine, and I'd say it's better than most of the indie rock or "indie rock" I run into, but it doesn't cross that line into something I enjoy and want to listen to.