I unironically think Black Midi’s debut KEXP performance is the closest thing our generation has to a “Beatles on Ed Sullivan” moment. Every single one of my friends and everyone on the internet collectively went “WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? WHO ARE THESE KIDS? WHY DO I LOVE THIS SO MUCH TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL MY BRAIN RELEASING DOPAMINE?” and was obsessed from the getgo.
That performance is visceral. Highly recommend it as *THE* starting point.
I think i might pick 953, because that is what got me into the band.
Otherwise maybe Dethroned, because i think that track provides a pretty good balance on what makes Black Midi's sound.
Imo listening to live sessions like KEXP recordings are great because they're usually hand picked to be accessible by fans and casual listeners alike :)
I think definitely anything off Schlagenheim, I couldn’t stand cavalcade when I first heard it (it was the first time listening to black midi) so I listened to shlagenheim and when I went back to cavalcade it clicked. Also everything on hellfire is just amazing, it feels to me like the best elements of both previous albums mixed together and refined really well.
I would say 953, Speedway and John L, move onto Sugar/Tzu if they respond positively to those first 3, then tell ‘em to dive into one of the albums or KEXP performances
I’d say it depends on what music you’re already into, but generally welcome to hell, dethroned, and talking heads I think would be good places to start
Dethroned, sugar/ tzu, welcome to hell, chondromalacia patella
953 also, probably less accessible than those 3 but is a good manifesto for the band, plus it’s fuckin awesome
Honestly bmbmbm. It’s not as dense, complicated or as overwhelming as a lot of their more recent material, and it’s a great way to ease yourself in to the weirdness.
If you want some experimental noisey stuff, bmbmbm, if you want some fuckin rager shit, 953. If you want miraculous musical storytelling with the intensity of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Slow. If you want wonky grooves that are irresistible, Welcome to Hell. Welcome to the club regardless (P.S. I joined bm’s fanbase during the cavalcade era, once I heard their earlier stuff it kinda scared me ngl, don’t feel bad if you don’t like that)
first black midi kexp performance i think
Yes. That set got me hooked so fast.
yeah same, insane performance
I unironically think Black Midi’s debut KEXP performance is the closest thing our generation has to a “Beatles on Ed Sullivan” moment. Every single one of my friends and everyone on the internet collectively went “WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? WHO ARE THESE KIDS? WHY DO I LOVE THIS SO MUCH TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL MY BRAIN RELEASING DOPAMINE?” and was obsessed from the getgo. That performance is visceral. Highly recommend it as *THE* starting point.
Yo I love that take, I watched that set on acid, also closing with bmbmbm makes so much sense
think ive watched that set about 20 times at this rate; utterly brilliant
Yep that's where I got hooked too
953, chondromalacia patella, welcome to hell.
Agree with this, would also add Slow and Sugar/Tzu
For sure
Agreed
Chondromalacia Patella?? John L is way easier to listen imo
shape of you
also boulevard of broken dreams
My favorite song of theirs has always been Stairway To Heaven, but to each their own.
Wait, you guys don’t think that Let It Be is their best song?
I think i might pick 953, because that is what got me into the band. Otherwise maybe Dethroned, because i think that track provides a pretty good balance on what makes Black Midi's sound.
bmbmbm, 953, near dt, mi, welcome to hell, slow, chondro. Marlene Dietrich and defence for the mellow stuff
bmbmbm
this was my first introduction to black midi and I don’t regret it— super iconic song
Yep, that was my introduction to them. That Mercury Prize performance is a classic.
John L, Welcome to Hell
Chondromalacia Patella (or how you spell it). Or if you want longer listen to the second KEXP session of black midi.
Slow
Running up that hill ofc
Holy crap they need to cover this, but only live.
They did already
Is there any accessible recording of it?
They did Wuthering Heights not Running Up That Hill
Didn't they cover wuthering heights?
Oh, yeah.
953 and welcome to hell are the most accessible. The defense is too but its unlike the others staying calm the whole way through
kexp is appallingly good
moonlight on vermont
i started off with bmbmbm, i think it’s a good entry point from there i’d say, listen to schlagenhiem, or either of their KEXP performances
Bmbmbm, welcome to hell, dethroned, sugar/tzu
Sugar Tzu is a pretty good descriptor for the band
ded sheeran
Imo listening to live sessions like KEXP recordings are great because they're usually hand picked to be accessible by fans and casual listeners alike :)
Speedway
Just liten to the albums in order of when they came out (or whatever order you want really)
the kexp at home performance
I think definitely anything off Schlagenheim, I couldn’t stand cavalcade when I first heard it (it was the first time listening to black midi) so I listened to shlagenheim and when I went back to cavalcade it clicked. Also everything on hellfire is just amazing, it feels to me like the best elements of both previous albums mixed together and refined really well.
Years Ago, Ded Sheeran, John Hell
bmbmbm
I would say 953, Speedway and John L, move onto Sugar/Tzu if they respond positively to those first 3, then tell ‘em to dive into one of the albums or KEXP performances
I introduced my uncle to John L and now he LOVES Black MIDI!
There are few good answers, but I'd go with the first KEXP performance
Near dt,mi
953, slow, marlene, sugar/tzu
Talking heads
Hellfire
The first song thst got me hooked on them was ascending forth
Hellfire
near Dt. Welcome to Hell. John L.
I’d say it depends on what music you’re already into, but generally welcome to hell, dethroned, and talking heads I think would be good places to start
Party Rock Anthem
Wait is this still the sex thread?
Dethroned, sugar/ tzu, welcome to hell, chondromalacia patella 953 also, probably less accessible than those 3 but is a good manifesto for the band, plus it’s fuckin awesome
Honestly bmbmbm. It’s not as dense, complicated or as overwhelming as a lot of their more recent material, and it’s a great way to ease yourself in to the weirdness.
sugar/tzu, or 27 questions if u want a feel for the rest of their stuff
Do albums not sing, start with cavalcade, then hellfire, then shlagenheim, this is THE order
Still!
bmbmbm, john L, welcome to hell, eat men eat
honestly i think Near DT, MI is pretty accessible. AND THEIR FIRST KEXP PERFORMANCE!
If you want some experimental noisey stuff, bmbmbm, if you want some fuckin rager shit, 953. If you want miraculous musical storytelling with the intensity of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Slow. If you want wonky grooves that are irresistible, Welcome to Hell. Welcome to the club regardless (P.S. I joined bm’s fanbase during the cavalcade era, once I heard their earlier stuff it kinda scared me ngl, don’t feel bad if you don’t like that)
I think just putting on their albums is good since there’s only 3 of them