Where would you guys rank this album in BoC's discog?

[Group Hex]

Ask me again this time next year

Exactly.

BOC (and also most of the music I enjoy) takes on different forms over time. So many things enhance each layer, wether it be your own personal headspace, political climate, weather, time of day, etc.

Gimme a year to soak.

[calvnnhobs]

Skirting the rules a tad:

Boc Maxima
Mhtrtc
Geo
Th
Twoism
Tch

I'd honestly put 35 Random Tracks or possibly Old Tunes up there somewhere as well, as I find them enjoyable and inspirational. A bit disappointed Jacquard is low on a lot of lists. After repeated listens this still seems like the most desperate song of the bunch.

[Amo Bishop Roden]

Zoetrope is beautiful. I didn't realize so many people didn't like it til recently.

Because it ruins the feel of the most perfect EP ever?! Honestly though, it just seems out of place on the album and the other three songs are all so amazing.

I never personally thought Zoetrope *ruinied* the feel of that EP. Sonically, it was a big jump, but thematically it feels very innocent, blissful, etc. In my mind a perfect ending to a brilliant group of songs.

[rainier]

Yeah, to me it's just part of what makes that ep so awesome.

[noilednad]

I personally think it's Geogaddi and MHTRTC tier, I will say that.

With Twoism underneath somewhere, and CH off in space.

[lumpenprol]

I'm just not a fan of the Sick Times / Collapse / Palace Posy / Split Infinities run, none of those tracks capture my attention particularly.

heh, that's my favorite run on the album (well, minus Split Infinities)

My list would go:

1) IABPOITC ep (what can I say, it's perfect...so it's an album)
2) Campfire Headphase/MHTRTC (tie)
3) Geo/TH (tie)

not sure where to put Twoism, I like it a lot but...does it qualify as an album? How about Hi Scores? To me those are kind of the crown jewels of the Old Tunes sound...hmm....

[Crisps]

MHTRTC is the best by a mile for me. It's got the best cover art too. TH can join the other albums in honourably scrapping it out for ranking between themselves.

[b0qurant]

Zoetrope is beautiful. I didn't realize so many people didn't like it til recently.

Because it ruins the feel of the most perfect EP ever?! Honestly though, it just seems out of place on the album and the other three songs are all so amazing.

I never personally thought Zoetrope *ruinied* the feel of that EP. Sonically, it was a big jump, but thematically it feels very innocent, blissful, etc. In my mind a perfect ending to a brilliant group of songs.

Yes. Another song like the other 3 would have had that ep feeling very inconclusive. It still undoubtedly would have been incredible ... but Zoetrope really seals deal for me.

[paultomba]

I'm just not a fan of the Sick Times / Collapse / Palace Posy / Split Infinities run, none of those tracks capture my attention particularly.

heh, that's my favorite run on the album (well, minus Split Infinities)

My list would go:

1) IABPOITC ep (what can I say, it's perfect...so it's an album)
2) Campfire Headphase/MHTRTC (tie)
3) Geo/TH (tie)

not sure where to put Twoism, I like it a lot but...does it qualify as an album? How about Hi Scores? To me those are kind of the crown jewels of the Old Tunes sound...hmm....

That's what's fascinating to me I suppose, that the views are so polarised!

I'm not trying to sound like a miserable sod, that patch just doesn't click with me. But it does with other people, so I'll stick with it

[GeogEddie]

Right at the bottom.

[Helios]

Right at the bottom.

lol, this guy. All I recall are negative posts from you (which is fine), but what do you hate so much about TH?

[GeogEddie]

I've had plenty of nice things to say about TH, and placing it below 3 outstanding albums is hardly a condemnation.

[TaoTapeTao]

Was anyone else disappointed with their first listens of Tomorrow's Harvest? Maybe it's the hype, maybe it's the immensity of their other albums, but something about this cd just doesn't seem as full as their other ones. I feel like some songs linger and disappoint without really going anywhere...

I mean it will probably improve with more listens but I've felt a little disappointed so far.

EDIT: No longer disappointed. This album is pretty damn good and will probably get more damned good the more I listen to it.

Last edited by TaoTapeTao on Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[paul]

it's their masterpiece. There, I said it!

kindred spirit!

i really think they have done an elegant job of refining their sound. not so much just to sound like they are evolving, but perhaps because they in fact, are. i have heard some shitty LPs from favorite bands pressured to go in NEW directions du jour, only for it to be patronizing shite. i immediately noticed the increased digital sound and was interested with a mental "what have we here?"

there's still plenty of classic BOC sound but like it or not, this logical progression literally had me rocking on my heels during my first listen. "what have we here" after a check with my synapses, yielded the bold response of "not certain, but me likey!"

my mate sincerely noted a change in their sound "to very digital." i offered that perhaps they have done all they would like with "whatever sound you were anticipating" and regardless of that anticipation/ forget all that/ forget this is Boards Of Canada ... was what you've just heard not mind-fucking blowing? yes my friends. the answer is a resounding yes.

[The Telepathic Kid]

Ask me again this time next year

this, for me a truly good record takes time to grow on you, as you discover its nuances and subtleties, especially Tomorrow's Harvest, it seems very layered and intricate, much more so than their previous works. This is a grower, not a shower.

I still haven't figured out why so many of you aren't fond of Campfire Headphase. Sure, its not as dark, but I think its damn good.

The melodies are just not there for me. It seems to be about the mood, the atmosphere and "losing yourself in the song" instead of melody, song progression and actual song writing. The brothers are great song writers, they've proven it on old tracks like Everything You Do, An Eagle in Your Mind, and 1969.

They have the occasional mood piece in the first two records like Beach at Redpoint, or Sixtyten, but its mostly progressive and music which is always two or three steps ahead of the listener.

On TCH I feel that the music struggles to keep up as I'm just like "Yeah you used this guitar phrase already"

Was anyone else disappointed with their first listens of Tomorrow's Harvest? Maybe it's the hype, maybe it's the immensity of their other albums, but something about this cd just doesn't seem as full as their other ones. I feel like some songs linger and disappoint without really going anywhere...

I mean it will probably improve with more listens but I've felt a little disappointed so far.

During the stream I was pretty disappointed, thought it was just more of the same meandering 4-5 minute murk that TCH provided, but when listening with headphones I realized that there was more underneath which gave the tracks propulsion and movement. I feel I could eventually love it but it's only a light 8/10 for me or somethin'.

It'd be Geogaddi > Hi Scores EP > MHTRTC > In a Beautiful Place > Tomorrow's Harvest > Twoism > TCH

[7T]

Well.. AT THIS MOMENT it would be

Music Has the Right
Geogaddi
Tomorrow's Harvest
Campfire

But the difference between Geogaddi and Tomorrow's Harvest is small yo.

[noby]

I can't really put them in any sort of ranking, though I guess I slightly prefer Twoism and MHTRTC to the others. Overall TH is a worthy addition to their discography, somewhere between Geogaddi and TCH probably.

Also, Zoetrope is the best track on Beautiful Place.

[Weekend_Warrior]

In descending order

8. Trans Canada Highway
7. In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country
6. Tomorrow's Harvest
5. Music Has The Right To Children
4. Hi Scores
3. Twoism
2. Geogaddi
1. The Campfire Headphase

[Torn n Frayed]

Well.. AT THIS MOMENT it would be

Music Has the Right
Geogaddi
Tomorrow's Harvest
Campfire

But the difference between Geogaddi and Tomorrow's Harvest is small yo.

Yo, you ready to take out Walt this final season, yo? MAGNETS BITCHES!!

[breadmaker]

for me, the four main studio albums form a slight chronological slope, with "music has the right" at the pinnacle and the rest gradually descending (very gradually, mind you. "harvest" and "campfire" are basically tied.) "music" is like a fucking greatest hits album and will always be the best for this reason. for that album it feels like they compiled the best of their output from 1996-1998, whereas the new album has a different agenda. "harvest" sounds more like the concept came first, and then the tracks were made to conform to the concept. it's not so concerned with adding new classics to the BOC cannon. and that's fine - not every album needs to be a non-stop parade of classics.

so if you accept that the concept of "tomorrow's harvest" is "this album is a movie" (as if the opening fanfare wasn't enough of a clue) then all the tracks become more like "scenes" than songs. which would explain the abbreviated, fleeting nature of tracks like "sick times." they seem more like cue points for a soundtrack then fully flesh-out songs. and so for someone who prefers longer, more spacious tracks that are given time to unfold into their groove, "harvest" is obviously going to be at the bottom of the list, if only be default. i still consider it a masterwork, just one that i feel less of an affinity with than the other albums. though of course this could change in the months to come.

Last edited by breadmaker on Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:58 pm, edited 3 times in total.