Stars Of The Lid – The Tired Sounds Of Stars Of The Lid

There was a reissue this year, but I honestly have no idea how to create release on discogs.

My copy is flawless. Beautiful listen. Ten more words ok.

I found this album early on in my foray into experimental music, and I'm really glad I did.

The Tired Sounds showed me that music could be more than a genre, more than the usual song preconceptions such as vocals, drums, time limits or 'structure'. It showed me that the possibilities of music are almost endless, all you have to do is find the right artists.

What I love most about this album is that it feels like classical music passed through a digital filter. Smatterings of samples, looping etc.. things that you couldn't do if you were just using acoustic instrumentation. I feel like Brian and Adam are completely open minded in their approach, all they care about is finding the right sound, regardless of how they get there. That's very rare these days.

I'm a fan of their entire catalog both before and after, but for me the weight of this release will probably never be replaced. It's a monumental release that everyone should enjoy.

all hail new reissue by kranky. YES!

The sample in Down 3 is taken from a 1966 American film called Seconds, it seems.

The perfect album from the perfect band.

There is a weight to this music.

Sounds ring out, starting like a symphonic swell, and ending with a twinkle of piano, or perhaps horns? As with previous SOTL releases, it's probably treated guitar, but to the blind listener it sounds like an orchestra reverberating through some vast space.

There must be something going on here between the tones. A sadness, perhaps more palpable than any other release I have heard. How these wordless, melodically sparse (at best!) pieces can transmit such power is astounding, but maybe this is how it should always have been done; cut the bombast, enhance the message.