Elroy "Excite Me Much" single

I have thought for a very long time that Elroy needs to find a job.  Maybe as a drummer (he’s pretty good), maybe something outside of music.  A solo recording artist is something I don’t think he’ll ever be successful at.  This recording only confirms my opinion.  He doesn’t have the songs, and he doesn’t have the voice.

He has got a job as a drummer?

Drummer in his dad’s band seems a little too safe for someone of his age. I do worry about Elroy, I really do.

I take a more positive view, and don't think for a moment there's any need to worry...

Perhaps there's more to Elroy's life than to be categorised by fans of his dad's band  as  "drummer in dad's band".

We don't actually know anything about him as a person, how he thinks and what motivates him. Ah the dangers of the audience/fans thinking they know the person. I don't think Johnny Marr, Eddie Vedder and Wilco and Neil Finn would concur somehow..

Perhaps , like Neil, he just took the why the hell wouldn't you when you get to going a band for a small step along life's journey....it's not just any band, m it's one fronted by Neil Finn - why wouldn't you indeed

@brownie posted:

I have thought for a very long time that Elroy needs to find a job.  Maybe as a drummer (he’s pretty good), maybe something outside of music.  A solo recording artist is something I don’t think he’ll ever be successful at.  This recording only confirms my opinion.  He doesn’t have the songs, and he doesn’t have the voice.

Unreasonably harsh. Putting aside subjective opinions of his music, how are you defining "success"? Elroy's obviously not trying to be a chart-topping popsmith like his dad. He's making idiosyncratic indie music, probably to please himself most of all. Maybe for him, simply finishing and releasing the album is success enough.

But if he is seeking substantive success, I'd speculate he's aiming for the same sort of space as his friends Connan Mockasin and Mac Demarco. Mac is a "star" of indie music yet he's very far from a household name. Anyway my point is, success is not for us to define, it's the artist's prerogative.

As for the music itself, it's not really my cup of tea, but I'd say the same thing about the others I mentioned^^. But I do think Elroy has an impressive grasp of production. He had some other stuff up on Soundcloud which has since been removed, but it was much more intricate and layered than this track. I thought he created a unique sound world and it was absolutely credible music. His voice is a subjective matter, and I thought it was pretty good in the other tracks which were more vocal-forward than this one.

But I agree with sinner62 that Elroy's still kind of a cipher, we don't know much about him and it's kind of hard to draw conclusions, let alone come down so harshly after one track. Sheesh.

Is this a few release of Elroy's 2019 debut album? Will it finally be released on CD this time?

@slowpogo posted:

it's kind of hard to draw conclusions, let alone come down so harshly after one track. Sheesh.

I haven’t drawn this conclusion after one track.  This is not the first music Elroy has released.  There was Pablo Vasquez, and there was at least one other song maybe a couple of years ago? And then there was the song he contributed to The Sun Came Out.   My opinion about Elroy’s music has formed over the course of years.  

Elroy's album will be rereleased in the coming months. And there will be a a vinyl version. I really like the album, and will buy the vinyl.

And about his talents: he is definitely talented as a musician. He won't become a household name, his stuff is to left field. If there is a market for Connan Mockasin (and there is), there can be a small market for Elroy's music. He probably needs to have all kinds of sidegigs to make enough money to afford a living, but that is the way it is for lots of musicians.

@Jeremy Loder posted:

Is this a few release of Elroy's 2019 debut album? Will it finally be released on CD this time?

Yes, really! What is up with this article, this album came out (streaming) two years ago.

As for the music, I was disappointed with it, I loved "The Cobbler" from The Sun Came Out. I rarely re-visit it, but Elroy has talent, and if he decides to go more in a pop direction, the next one may be more to my liking. In any rate, not my call to make.

As a side note, after YEARS of wanting a Finn Family album, I was pretty disappointed with Lightsleeper, too.

@brownie posted:

I haven’t drawn this conclusion after one track.  This is not the first music Elroy has released.  There was Pablo Vasquez, and there was at least one other song maybe a couple of years ago? And then there was the song he contributed to The Sun Came Out.   My opinion about Elroy’s music has formed over the course of years.  

That's still weak tea dude. Personally I'd at least wait until his debut album is actually out, if not a couple albums, to make grand judgments of his talent and place in the artistic sphere.

@slowpogo posted:

That's still weak tea dude. Personally I'd at least wait until his debut album is actually out, if not a couple albums, to make grand judgments of his talent and place in the artistic sphere.

That's your prerogative to wait longer to make up your mind if you want to.  He may change my mind at some point, but I don't see anything that points in that direction.

And "dude"? Really?  We've both been here around 20 years and you don't know I'm a woman? 

@brownie posted:

And "dude"? Really?  We've both been here around 20 years and you don't know I'm a woman?

How would I know this? I don't recall it being mentioned. Come to think of it I don't think I've ever mentioned my own gender and wouldn't expect others to know. But regardless, I consider "dude" a gender-neutral term and meant no offense.

This album of Elroy’s was actually released on Bandcamp in 2019. I have a legitimately bought digital copy of it. So it is actually possible to have an opinion on his music.

My verdict? The album is good ambient pop/background music, unobtrusive and pleasant in an indie rock way.

I don’t think Elroy has a lot of songs in him.  (Or else I reckon he would have put out more. He is over 30.) He seems to be a fine musician otherwise but will be a journeyman musician. A talented sideman and asset to any band, though. And if he puts out an album every once in awhile, that’s cool, too.

This Stuff article from 2019 was apparently overlooked at the time, but it clarifies a lot of what we're talking about here. Elroy has consistently worked as a band member (with lots of groups, not just family) since he was 16. He lived in New York and London and didn't rely on the family fortune but paid his own way, working restaurant and driving jobs. So I don't think we should worry much about him, he'll get by just fine whatever happens.

As far as his solo career, he's just getting started. It sounds like he does actually have a lot of songs in him, he said he's already recorded several songs for his next album. This was a few years ago and he's obviously been busy with Crowded House much of that time so his next album will probably be delayed a while.

He originally released his album on Bandcamp in 2019 with minimal PR. Now he's signed with a label and it's getting a proper release this summer so we'll see what happens. Sounds like he's at peace with things and enjoying the ride: "I have no idea how good a shot I have of making a living out of this, but I just trust that if I give myself time to make music that's unusual and interesting, good things might happen."

I've only heard three tracks and am interested in hearing his whole album, but I think he's got a lot of potential. He may never play on the Tonight Show but he's skilled at making very atmospheric, woozy, multi-textured indie pop.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entert...releases-debut-album

You mean Elroy but cool article, thanks!

Whoops! Thanks, fixed it