Control

To whoever posted this album: I appreciate seeing this on here greatly. It was on my shortlist for my submission as well. Truly one of the best records ever, and certainly the best of its genre. The best show I ever saw in my life was David at the Horseshoe in Toronto in 2006.

That Seattle grunge sound is never far away. The rawness and darkness of this album is very intriguing. 'Magazine' and 'Second Best' are amazing, strong songs. Nice discovery!

Eh, drawn out indie. Don't hate it but I don't really like it. 2/5

I love concept albums! This had a very early Death Cab for Cutie sound (musically, not vocals), which I dig. Makes sense since he has connections to the Seattle indie band scene. These lyrics hit HARD in the opening song: "But for now, I need you But it was only in my head Because no one ever says What they really mean to say When there's so much at stake So I told her I loved her And she told me she loved me And I mostly believed her And she mostly believed me" Oof, man. That hits hard.

I couldn't get past the consistent downbeat tone of gloom. It needed some variety to move the down around. I could see myself being into it in some moods - but I wasn't in that mood yesterday.

Pretty good. Songs are good but I don't love his voice, it has sort of a flat quality to it, reminiscent of Evan Dando. 3 stars.

9/10. I thought this was really neat.

I was a little skeptical of this album if I am being honest. There is plenty of thoughtful 2000s indie type stuff on here. But honestly, the concept and execution is deserving of a spot.

I quite liked this! Cool themes, good depressive backing, and I'm always a sucker for a concept album. Thanks for introducing me to something I wouldn't have likely found otherwise!

kept thinking i was listening to the guy from coldplay.

3. Indi rock

I get why this album was chosen, but it hasn’t clicked with me, yet. I will need a couple of more listens. However: Good album!

J'ai aimé plus ca que je pensais meme si le genre était rock emo, j'ai trouvé ca bon et passer un bon moment pendant les 30 minutes. 3.85

Whatever narrative and language live within Control, the album is utterly effective in its sadness. It's all a bit too real over 21st century America, inside indie. Which is a tricky container to define, however easy it is to sense. Geography can have a paradoxical bigness-smallness, and Control does, too, and the right way for a concept album. That is, the runtime does not bloat.

Looks like I missed this one at the time. And it is pretty good actually. Thanks for sharing

I believe I HAVE seen David Bazan live. Just him acoustic for the most part. Seems like he definitely has a cult of personality around him among folks. I think the folks who listened to Sufjan and Pedro the Lion were overlapping. Definitely had college roommates way into Pedro the Lion. I think he's okay. Just never got into it a ton. Not bad at all though.

Very Pearl Jam-adjacent. Not bad!

Nothing stood out for me here but could be the listening environment of work

I've been somewhat willfully ignorant of this band ever since they seemed like another bland singer-songwriter addition to Polyvinyl Records' stellar lineup of artists. Joke's on me then – this was a super-surprising LP with some interesting songwriter takes on post-punk. While not wholly memorable, this album gave me some novel takes on the standard post-punk angular guitars meeting some softer, more abstruse vocals. I need to take a re-listen to collect some of my standout faves, but overall I was happy someone added this so I could stop being a contrarian and give this band a listen.

Interesting record.

This had quite some elements that a like. Could have been a bit more outspoken as the second half of the album not as exciting as the first. But all-in-all an enjoyable listen.

This had a cool indie vibe with a lot of songs to enjoy! Kudos

This was aight, I get Pearl Jam vibes from the lead vocalist

I didn’t really like this. The album cover feels like a ripoff of The Downward Spiral and the vocals come across as extremely uninvested, even downright bored. 3/10

Sadcore death fantasy.

A miserablist gungey indie concept album album about a relationship going wrong. Objectively quite good but didn't really grab me. Rating: 3 Playlist track: Penetration Date listened: 18/07/24

what an album! excellent

A friend told me I should listen to Pedro the Lion sometime around when this was released but I never did. I feel like a terrible Seattleite! But most importantly I have been missing out on an exceptional album! The music is downbeat perfectly suiting the mood, but it’s the lyrics and the devastating story told on this album that really hooked me. An exploration of love, lust, anger and revenge the songs lay out a tragic story. The first time through I just had a small idea of what it was all about, but I immediately listened a second and third time and the details only increased my love for this album. The opening track Options is such a realistic feeling of love - and doubt. Such an interesting sentiment. Rapture is such a clever description of cheating - “Gideon is in the drawer” letting us know we are in a motel. Complicated feelings abound… “just ten more minutes.” Wow. Then Penetration mixes metaphors or sex and getting fired from a job in a very interesting way. “Cause if it isn’t making dollars then it isn’t making sense… if you aren’t moving units then you’re not worth the expense… if it isn’t penetration then it isn’t worth a kiss.” Another standout was Priests and Paramedics… the lyrics exploring each’s encounters with death and the different ways each must approach and ultimately reacts to it. Haunting. Really I could list great things about every song on here… this album really connected with me. This is the third user-submitted album and so far y’all are batting 1000. This could easily displace dozens of albums that are on the official list. Terrific!

Okay, wow! As a lyrics first listener this is a very rich nugget of discovery for me! There is so much intensity, so much cynicism, and raw vulnerability here to unpack. And paired with this 90's alt rock/post-grunge reminiscent music, it's a total slam dunk for me. I can't believe I've never heard of this band before, but I'm impressed. It's like an even more maudlin Counting Crows, if that's possible? There's real poetry and beauty here, but also darkness and pain. What a cathartic listen this is! I needed to hear it, today of all days too. Wow. Blown away. Love this. Thank you to the person who submitted it!

Clearly not made by a lion

This album is caught between the pull of the Seattle grunge and later indie rock scenes. It navigates this with a sense of respect for the grunge past but with a clear vision of what's to come. Lyrically, this album is very striking in its portrayal of love lost, betrayal, and eventual retribution. It also has a political and anti-consumerist mindset that can be heard throughout.

Interesting the back story of this album. Reminds me of a few different artists (Jack Johnson specifically). Waffling between 3/4.

Not bad 4 A bit samey 3

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Priests and paramedics

Fine Indie rick, a little uninspiring 2.9

Great grungy-indie sound with a perfectly executed concept, if frequently dragging in pace. The lyrics read like bad poetry to me. A really good listen though; I would not have minded seeing this on the official list. Thanks for suggesting it. Fave Songs: Options, Magazine, Rehearsal, Second Best

This was a little morose and monotonous for me. I mean, it was supposed to be, so there you go.

Well that sure was a depressing album but that was kind of the point right. Not everything can be sunshine’s and this album did a good job of showing the darker side of people and the decisions they make. A bit of a drag at times but overall not too bad the grunge indie sound is solid and obviously very Seattle. A good deeper concept album for the darker days. 6.6/10

Interesting concept behind the lyrics but otherwise falls pretty flat to me.

This is an example of cut over from the last century. So many albums have come after it that it sounds banal at this point but was not at the time.

I really like the tone and the lead singer's voice. This genre is kind of a perfect fit for me, however the album underwhelms a bit. Options and Rapture are promising, but most of the rest meanders around until Second Best, which is the standout track for me. I actually like the subsequent album, Achilles Heel, better.

Nice

Enjoyed this grunge concept album, only thing stopping me from adding this to my frequent rotation is the vocals get a bit wearing.

Even more whiney nasally American crap!

Ok

Indie rock with lethargic indie singing. Not very inspiring.

Dreary

Indie rock, emo. Indie rollo. Un 2.

The was just whiny music that I didn't need to hear. It was bad. I suffered through it. It is not the worst album but I will round down